When the coronavirus crossed the Chinese borders, everybody went to their house, many countries thought that they would be able to protect themselves from the virus by closing the borders, and they matched all the steps according to this forecast. However, the infection did not recognize any borders and spread throughout the entire world, and in a short period of time, it has become a pandemic. Thus, time has shown that self-closing is not efficient in the fight against the coronavirus, solidarity is unavoidable.
Support to the global fight
Since the pandemic started spreading, Azerbaijan has been cooperating with the World Health Organization (WHO) of the UN. On March 13, within the framework of the WHO’s strategic preparation and response plan, Azerbaijan signed a donor agreement envisaging the allocation of voluntary financial aid to the Relief Fund for COVID-19 Application. Azerbaijan has allocated 5 mln USD to the World Health Organization.
Azerbaijan has taken over the mission to unite the world, demonstrated priority in this fight and made an international call.
For the first time, a summit has been organized on this issue at the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
From Baku to the world
At the initiative of the head of state, on April 10, the summit of the Turkic Council was held in a videoconference format. The main purpose of the summit was the organization of the coordination between the Turkic speaking countries, call for international cooperation in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus. It is also noteworthy that the extraordinary summit of the Turkic Council was the first international event dedicated to the fight against the pandemic.
“As the coronavirus pandemic is a global danger, it requires a global response. Since the first days of the pandemic, we have witnessed that some countries and international organizations have got confused by the pandemic and chosen the way of self-isolation. In the time when the pandemic has covered the entire planet, the world needs solidarity and cooperation,” said President Ilham Aliyev and thus, proposed the only efficient model of the fight against COVID-19.
Calling Non-Aligned Movement to join
The main philosophy of the Non-Aligned Movement is based on not joining any conflicts, blocs, respecting all people’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security, justice and international obligations.
Nevertheless, this time, it is necessary to join – it is not about joining any military bloc, it is necessary to take part in the fight against the global disaster. As President Ilham Aliyev said, “As the coronavirus pandemic is a global danger, it requires a global reply.”
As known, since October of last year, Azerbaijan has been chairing the Non-Aligned Movement. This time, official Baku has once again taken over the mission to unite different poles, forward towards the united aim, and on May 4, at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev, the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement under the theme of “Together against COVID-19” was held in a videoconference format. Many experts consider that the participation of the EU official in the summit is a historical event and the clear indicator of the trust in the Azerbaijani President and the reaction to the call of the head of state on an international scale.
The Azerbaijani President once again called on the international community from this tribune and drew attention to the solidarity in the fight against pandemic. “Mutual understanding of one another’s problems by the Non-Aligned Movement member states, demonstration of solidarity and preference of multilateral cooperation are of great importance. Solidarity and cooperation among countries and international organizations are especially relevant in the time of the global pandemic.
I am confident that the valuable opinions and proposals voiced by heads of states and governments, heads of international organizations today will make a contribution to our fight against the coronavirus,” the President said.
At the same time, the fact that Azerbaijan has allocated additional 5 mln AZN to the World Health Organization shows that Azerbaijan is the leading country of the international mission.
When the pandemic started spreading, many experts called it the end of globalism. Yes, initial inclinations showed the movement of the world towards it. However, the analysis of the initial negative and positive outcomes , pragmatic analysis have shown that self-closing is not the way out. Only the policy based on the united, mutual support can save the planet from this disaster. What Azerbaijan proposes is to apply this model and expand its geography.
Vusal Mammadov
