BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Thanks to the personal leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, international solidarity against the COVID-19 pandemic has been promoted, WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Henri Kluge said during a meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on April 26, Trend reports.
Noting that this was his first visit to Azerbaijan as the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Henri Kluge stressed the importance of this visit in terms of it coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the partnership between Azerbaijan and the United Nations. Hans Henri Kluge said: “I appreciate your global leadership in international diplomacy and congratulate you on this occasion. Your crucial work for sustainable development is of great importance. Because thanks to your personal leadership, international solidarity against the COVID-19 pandemic has been promoted, and this issue has become a major issue on the agenda of the world's largest international organization after the UN – the Non-Aligned Movement.”
The visitor described the extension of Azerbaijan's chairmanship in the Non-Aligned Movement for one year as an indicator of confidence in the head of state, and congratulated him on this occasion.
Hans Henri Kluge emphasized that the cooperation with Azerbaijan was very successful, adding that his organization would make every effort to continue this cooperation. Pointing to the online summit of the Non-Aligned Movement Contact Group on Combating Coronavirus in May 2020, which was held at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev as chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, he praised the role of the WHO during the Summit. Hans Henri Kluge thanked Azerbaijan for creating a database on medical needs and for providing $10 million through the WHO to 10 countries worst affected by COVID.
Hans Henri Kluge noted that the UN General Assembly's Special Session on Combating COVID-19 had been initiated by President Ilham Aliyev, adding that President Ilham Aliyev had also initiated a resolution on fair and equal distribution of vaccines within the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly. He added that Azerbaijan also included the fight against COVID on the agenda of the Turkic Council.
Hans Henri Kluge also praised measures taken by Azerbaijan against COVID-19 at the national level, noting that the situation with COVID in Azerbaijan was always under control and that the government had been taking the necessary and consistent measures. He also said that Azerbaijan's vaccination policy was very successful.