BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 14. A panel discussion on the topic "Middle Powers in the New World Order" was held as part of the XII Global Baku Forum, Trend reports.
Addressing the participants of the event, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Georgi Georgiev noted that Global Baku Forum is a good opportunity to reaffirm our consistent position in support of multilateralism in addressing global challenges.
“We invariably adhere to the UN Charter and the principles and norms of international law,” he said.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elnur Mammadov added that countries need to have a stable economy to be able to make independent decisions.
"In order to be able to make independent decisions and put national interests first, it is, of course, necessary to have a stable economy, and we have built exactly such an economy in Azerbaijan over the past 30 years. If this is not the case, if you don't have strategic autonomy and economic independence, you won't be able to make independent decisions, taking into account the interests of your country," the deputy minister mentioned.
In turn Foreign Minister of the Republic of Austria 2000-2004; European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy 2004-2009; European Commissioner for Trade and European Neighborhood Policy 2009-2010 Benita Ferrero-Waldner emphasized that middle powers can significantly influence international governance as well as play an important role in building global coalitions.
According to her, middle powers have important regional influence and strategic autonomy, which allows them to establish multifaceted relations with the world's major powers without succumbing to their pressure. This enables them to influence international negotiations and contribute to global governance structures while maintaining their independence.
“Middle powers can change international governance by making a meaningful contribution to restoring confidence in global governance, which is particularly important in times of political crisis and multipolarity,” she noted.
The president of Iceland in 1996-2016, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson stressed that small and medium-sized countries play an important role in demonstrating alternative development paths.
Grimsson noted that in the 21st century, most states are small or medium-sized and these countries play a key role in global changes. He noted that countries such as Iceland have demonstrated that it is possible to move away from a fossil-based economy to renewable energy in just one generation.
“40 years ago many people thought it was impossible, but now we know it is possible. Small and medium-sized countries can show the world that alternatives exist,” he stated.
The discussion includes the participation of the Foreign Minister of Austria from 2000 through 2004, European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighborhood Policy from 2004 through 2009, European Commissioner for Trade and Neighborhood Policy from 2009 through 2010 Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elnur Mammadov, President of Iceland from 1996 through 2016 Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2014 through 2018 Mladen Ivanic, President of Bulgaria from 1997 through 2002 Petar Stoyanov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye from 1991 through 1994, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly from 1997 through 1999 Hikmet Cetin, Prime Minister of Malta from 2013 through 2020 Joseph Muscat, President of Mongolia from 2005 through 2009 Nambaryn Enkhbayar, Minister of Defense of Latvia from 2019 through 2022, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia from 2004 through 2007 Artis Pabriks.
The XII Global Baku Forum is scheduled to take place from March 13 through 15, 2025.
The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center and will be held under the theme "Rethinking World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities".
Discussions will focus on key global issues, including geopolitical shifts, multilateralism, the global health crisis, recovery and regional stability, COP29, and more.
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