"Fact" daily writes:
For a long time, Azerbaijan was preparing for the hosting of the COP29 conference.
Moreover, this major climate event in Azerbaijan took place with the agreement of Armenia, when a deal was made with the RA authorities, and the Armenian side agreed to withdraw its candidacy in exchange for the return of several prisoners.
Baku had set itself the task of ensuring Armenia's participation in the UN Climate Conference and showing that they are committed to peace, and that the process of establishing peace is ongoing, and this is in the event that Armenian prisoners of war are still being held in that country.
But since no one from Armenia has officially registered even four days after the start of the forum, Baku has moved on to new threats.
Even on the Azerbaijani TV channel there is a specific threat that if Armenia does not participate in the forum, it will cease to exist.
Aliyev, in his turn, continues to threaten that Armenia has been "occupying" its territories for years, and so on.
There is an impression that COP29 has turned into a platform for slandering Armenia. Although to expect anything else from a criminal country would be naïve to say the least.
From the beginning, Azerbaijan expected to ensure a large representation in terms of participation in the forum, dozens of important heads of state should hasten to arrive in Baku these days, but in reality it was not possible to ensure a large level of representation.
Leaders of such countries as India, China, Germany, France, Brazil, Canada, etc. did not arrive in Baku. Officials of many countries and representatives of large companies, business and public sector simply avoided visiting Baku for various reasons, considering it as a pointless waste of time.
In other words, the expectations of Azerbaijan to raise its reputation at the international level to a new level did not come true.
Along with that, the conference becomes an opportunity for the international media and various organizations to raise the fact that Azerbaijan has an authoritarian and despotic regime, a country where human rights and freedom of speech have no place at all.
On the other hand, the fact of crimes committed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh is mentioned. In their reports, human rights organizations mention the inhuman blockade of Artsakh and then the forced emigration of Artsakh Armenians.
And the topic of the return of Artsakh Armenians is also brought to the agenda by various international circles.
Against this background, the fact that the climate conference to be held in Baku looks like hypocrisy is emphasized, because that country receives its income only from the export of oil and gas, as a result of which it contributes to the process of atmospheric pollution and global warming.
98% of Azerbaijan's energy supply is based on fossil fuels, and about two-thirds of the government's revenue comes from oil and gas exports.
More recently, the case where the executive director of a climate conference discusses possible fossil fuel deals drew media attention.
In fact, Baku is using the largest climate event to increase the sale of its hydrocarbon resources that are polluting the environment.
The events of recent years also show that Azerbaijan's steps are generally aimed at negative climate changes, as that country intends to increase its energy supplies, particularly gas, to Europe, as European countries are trying to find an alternative to Russian gas.
It is completely illogical, in this case, the holding of COP29 in Azerbaijan is capable of solving what climate issue.
Instead, it could be held in Baku, for example, a conference on merciless use of oil resources and air pollution.
Even climate activists raise these issues, and it is no coincidence that there are protests against the holding of the climate conference in Azerbaijan.
For example, the famous climate activist Greta Thunberg took part in a demonstration in Georgia in Tbilisi in protest against Azerbaijan, which hosted the UN climate conference. By the way, he arrived in Yerevan yesterday.
And if we compare it with last year's COP28 in Dubai, during which a very high level of representation was ensured, the Baku conference can be considered a shadowy event, the purpose of which is not even clear, when instead of addressing climate issues, the country's consciousness and mind either the deals for the purchase of oil and weapons, or threatening Armenia.
But it must be admitted that Azerbaijan has succeeded in one matter.
Despite being authoritarian, dictatorial and criminal, that country managed to get the conference to take place in Baku itself. Perhaps "caviar diplomacy" also played a role here.
ARSEN SAHAKYAN
