ArmInfo.If "occupation" by Armenia ceases, Azerbaijan could contribute to South-South cooperation more actively, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said, Trend reports citing the country's Foreign Ministry. He made the speech at the plenary session of the Second High- level UN Conference on South-South Cooperation in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
"Azerbaijan represents an interesting example of a donor country. In these years, Azerbaijan has succeeded in recovering, diversifying and modernizing its economy, while reducing poverty level from 49 to 5 percent. Most importantly, having effectively integrating both refugees and IDPs into the society, Azerbaijan has accumulated a vast experience in providing them with adequate shelter, health and education services, employment, while strengthening their human capital, which could serve as possible areas for the South-South cooperation," he said.
To note, on March 20-22, 2019 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Second UN High- Level Conference on South-South Cooperation is held, dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Action Plan. The Armenian delegation participates in the event at the level of Deputy Foreign Minister Artak Apikonyan.
In 1978, Buenos Aires adopted an Action Plan for the development and implementation of technical cooperation among developing countries, which was an important step in strengthening cooperation among developing countries. South-South cooperation, being one of the important elements of international cooperation for development, opens up for developing countries and countries with economies in transition real opportunities to ensure on the basis of individual and collective efforts sustained economic growth and sustainable development goals.
Developing countries have primary responsibility for developing and implementing South-South cooperation, which should not replace, but rather complement North-South cooperation, and in this regard reiterate the need for the international community to assist developing countries in their efforts to expand South-South cooperation. Tripartite cooperation involves partnerships of donor states and multilateral organizations in promoting South-South cooperation through the provision of financial resources, training, management mechanisms and technological processes.