AGP Executive Report

World Urban Forum in Baku: Day four is in full swing with UN-Habitat and partners pushing a hard message: cities need real crisis-ready capacity, not just plans. UN officials warned many municipalities still struggle to stay functional under overlapping shocks, while panels tied housing to climate resilience and affordability—and stressed that slum and informal-settlement problems are health and inequality issues, not just housing shortages. Global South NGO diplomacy: Baku also hosted the Global South NGO Platform’s first general assembly and an OTS NGO cooperation forum, with Turkmenistan and other Turkic-state civil groups using the same venue to coordinate on climate, inclusion, and urban policy. Regional transport tech: Kazakhstan is digitizing road transit permits with Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Kyrgyzstan via eGov.kz, aiming to cut paperwork and border friction. Energy watch: Azeri Light slipped below $118 a barrel, adding another pressure point to the week’s economic agenda. Education ties: Eswatini’s King Mswati III visited SOCAR’s Higher Oil School in Baku, signaling continued interest in energy training links.

Rail Revival: Georgia’s PM Irakli Kobakhidze says the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway section will start operating by month-end, with a new joint Georgian-Azerbaijani enterprise set to run the line and rail service between Georgia and Azerbaijan due to resume from May 26—an immediate boost for transit, tourism and people-to-people ties. Justice Under Pressure: The International Commission of Jurists says trials of Armenians in Baku fail fair-trial standards, citing issues like military jurisdiction over civilians, limits on chosen counsel, language barriers and blocked access. Prison Claims: A final voice recording from ICT expert Ilgar Aliyev alleges police planted drugs and threatened his family. WUF13 Focus: At the World Urban Forum in Baku, leaders keep pushing “people at the centre” housing and urban resilience, while Azerbaijan highlights its post-conflict reconstruction and connectivity agenda. Regional Watch: Kazakhstan’s KTZ plans a Caspian maritime fleet and cargo airline to strengthen Middle Corridor logistics.

World Urban Forum Momentum: Azerbaijan’s WUF13 keeps pulling global leaders into Baku, with President Ilham Aliyev telling Euronews the event is a chance to show what’s been done and learn from partners as cities balance heritage and modernization. Reconstruction Numbers: A senior presidential envoy says the government has spent nearly $14bn over five years on rebuilding liberated territories, with returns already underway in Shusha and more housing moves planned. Regional Deals: Azerbaijan and Georgia signed a package on energy and transport, including a 20-year gas supply accord and steps to restart passenger rail between Tbilisi and Baku from May 26. Saudi-Azerbaijan Social Link: Saudi officials say cooperation can expand on social development, while Saudi’s pavilion spotlights housing, sustainability and city tech. Global Housing Pressure: An Argentine architect warns the world’s housing crisis is worsening and hits women, youth and the elderly hardest. Tech Watch: China has started issuing “passports” for humanoid robots via digital IDs—an early sign of how governance is moving into machines.

World Urban Forum in Baku: The 13th World Urban Forum is driving the week’s biggest diplomatic push, with a first-ever Leaders’ Summit and a “Baku Call to Action” aimed at safer, resilient housing and cities. Housing as politics: Speakers including UN-Habitat officials and Vice President Iliana Iotova framed housing as dignity and stability—not skyscrapers or tech. Regional deals: Georgia and Azerbaijan extended gas supply for 20 years and agreed on electricity and transport packages; passenger rail between Tbilisi and Baku is set to resume daily from May 26 after a six-year gap. Bilateral diplomacy: Uzbekistan’s Mirziyoyev met Azerbaijan’s Aliyev on trade and projects, while Serbia’s Vučić used WUF13 to deepen ties with both Azerbaijan and others. Fuel pressure abroad: Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said President Ruto ordered urgent talks with transport and energy stakeholders to calm fuel-price shocks. Global spillover: Trump said a planned US strike on Iran was postponed after Gulf leaders urged diplomacy. Sports and sanctions: Russia’s gymnasts were cleared to compete internationally under national flag and anthem, with stages including Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan spotlight: WUF13 also featured Turkic Houses resilience panels and new energy-efficiency cooperation with Türkiye.

World Urban Forum Spotlight: Baku’s WUF13 keeps pulling big names and big ideas—Georgia PM Irakli Kobakhidze arrived to join the World Urban Summit and meet President Ilham Aliyev, as the forum pushes solutions to the global housing crisis. Local-to-Global Housing Debate: Poland’s UN envoy Krzysztof Szczerski stressed that women, children, youth and grassroots groups must shape housing and urban policy, not just receive services. Azerbaijan’s Urban Culture Push: The Azerbaijan National Art Museum opened “Chronicle of the City of Winds,” linking Baku’s 19th–21st century transformation to fine art as part of the Year of Urban Planning and Architecture. Regional Diplomacy: Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić said he and Aliyev discussed energy, infrastructure and investments, with direct flights boosting ties. New Cultural Calendar: Baku announced the 4th Baku Contemporary Music Days (May 18–24). Security Watch: Russia’s renewed military cargo deliveries to Syria are again flagged by satellite-based reporting.

World Urban Forum in Baku: The 13th UN World Urban Forum opened in Azerbaijan with the theme “Housing the world: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities,” drawing 32,000+ participants from nearly 180 countries and putting housing, climate resilience, and city governance at the center of talks through May 23. Diplomacy on the sidelines: President Ilham Aliyev met Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić and Bulgaria’s Iliana Iotova, with both sides praising WUF13 and pushing energy and investment cooperation; Vučić highlighted new Baku–Belgrade direct flights and urged Azerbaijani firms to expand in Serbia’s tourism, retail, spa and agriculture. Energy and renewables: Aliyev also received the UAE’s energy minister, with both sides stressing cooperation in energy and renewable projects. Local governance message: The Hague’s mayor told the WUF13 local assembly that cities and regions must be recognized as full political actors in global decision-making. Academic ties: Azerbaijan and Venezuela advanced a diplomacy-and-international-relations cooperation plan between ADA and the Pedro Gual institute. Other notable global item: France’s Epstein probe reportedly saw around ten new suspected victims come forward.

World Urban Forum in Baku: WUF13 has kicked off at the Baku Olympic Stadium, with more than 40,000 registered participants from 182 countries, as Azerbaijan pushes its “smart city/smart village” and reconstruction model for climate-resilient urban growth. New Urban Agenda push: At the ministerial meeting, UN-Habitat’s Anaclaudia Rossbach urged faster implementation of the New Urban Agenda, while Azerbaijan’s Anar Guliyev highlighted $14.7 billion invested in Karabakh and East Zangezur infrastructure and housing over five years, aiming to reach $18 billion by 2028. Housing diplomacy: Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif arrived in Baku to represent Pakistan at WUF13 and will showcase Punjab’s “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” affordable housing plan. Regional security and resilience: Azerbaijan’s deputy minister for emergencies stressed that seismic risk and sustainability must be built into urban planning, and Turkic-state officials used WUF13-linked talks to call for closer coordination on hybrid threats. Turkic civil society: A 2nd Solidarity Forum of NGOs of OTS member states opened in Baku, with pledges for joint grant competitions. Other notable: Zimbabwe’s VP Chiwenga also arrived for WUF13, while an EFES-2026 coastal assault task was reported as successfully completed.

World Urban Forum Countdown: WUF13 opens in Baku on 17 May, with Azerbaijan chairing a ministerial meeting on the New Urban Agenda and a full lineup of assemblies—from women and youth to local governments—while diplomats get briefed on security, transport and accreditation as registrations top 40,000 from 182 countries. Seismic Safety Push: Azerbaijan’s Deputy Emergency Situations Minister says urban planning must meet sustainability and modern seismic-risk standards, with stronger legal frameworks and regional information-sharing. NGO Integration in the Turkic Space: The 2nd Solidarity Forum of OTS NGOs is underway in Baku, with officials calling for joint grant competitions across Turkic states and framing NGO work as “Track 2” diplomacy. Karabakh Remains Laid to Rest: Missing First Karabakh war servicemen Rafig Jafarov, plus Sadigov Zaur and Haziyev Aladdin, were buried in Fuzuli with family and officials attending. Regional Diplomacy & Economy: Azerbaijan-Russia economic ties were discussed at KazanForum as Deputy PM Shahin Mustafayev spoke on transport corridors.

Oil Markets: Azeri Light crude jumped above $116 a barrel, adding fresh momentum to Azerbaijan’s energy story. Turkic Civil Society: Baku is hosting the second Solidarity Forum of Turkic States NGOs, bringing together civil society groups from eight countries and setting up new bilateral NGO cooperation tracks. Turkic Strategy Goes Hard-Power: Analysis and official messaging around the Organization of Turkic States keep pushing beyond culture into digital integration, security coordination, and the Middle Corridor’s growing role. WUF13 Logistics: Heydar Aliyev International Airport will run in an enhanced operational mode for the World Urban Forum, with 24/7 shuttle buses and dedicated routes to move delegates across Baku. Transport Paper-to-Digital: TRACECA is moving toward a single electronic transit permit, aiming to cut paperwork and speed cargo movement across participating states. Regional Diplomacy: Ilham Aliyev wrapped up his Kazakhstan visit as Azerbaijan continues to deepen ties across the Turkic space. Global Noise: Eurovision’s grand final in Vienna is drawing protests over Israel’s participation, while the Israel-UAE relationship remains a discreet but politically sensitive topic.

Middle Corridor & “Green” Logistics: At Kazan’s economic forum, Azerbaijan’s Deputy PM Shahin Mustafayev met Russia’s Alexey Overchuk to discuss bilateral economic ties, while an AZERTAC expert says Azerbaijan is upgrading the Middle Corridor with electrified rail, the Alat port “green” status, and ESG-aligned logistics—turning the route into a more competitive, lower-impact freight corridor. WUF13 & Urban Sustainability: Ahead of World Urban Forum 13 in Baku, a ministry roundtable focused on environmental awareness shaping sustainable city life and public participation, as Azerbaijan also prepares WUF13 information resources and events for World Environment Day. Regional Diplomacy (OTS): President Ilham Aliyev addressed the Organization of Turkic States informal summit in Turkistan, with Turkish media spotlighting his push to strengthen OTS’s global role and the Middle Corridor. Culture & Shusha: The Kharibulbul festival wrapped up in Shusha, blending Azerbaijani mugham and international performances. Sports: Azerbaijani gymnasts added two medals at the AGF Trophy in Baku.

Eurovision Fallout: Azerbaijan’s entry “Jiva” failed to qualify in the second semi-final in Vienna, as five more countries booked Saturday’s final—Denmark, Australia (Delta Goodrem), Romania, Cyprus (Antigoni) and others—while Armenia, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Latvia also went out. World Urban Forum Push: Baku is hosting WUF13 momentum with international delegations arriving, including Afghanistan’s NEPA chief and Kenya’s PCS Mudavadi, as the agenda shifts from housing talk to execution. Urban Sports Spotlight: An international symposium at the Azerbaijan Sports Academy focused on sports and physical activity in city environments, tying into the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture.” US Military Deal: The Pentagon expanded missile-arsenal agreements with firms including Anduril and Leidos, aiming for cheaper, scalable strike systems. Regional Diplomacy: Azerbaijan and Belarus military information-field reps met in Minsk on strategic communications and countering disinformation. Legal Update: Azerbaijan extradited an Indian citizen wanted for alleged heroin trafficking to India.

Global South Diplomacy: Azerbaijan’s Global South NGO Platform wrapped its first General Assembly in Baku, adopting a final declaration that sets annual meetings, strengthens governance, and expands regional representation—while placing Azerbaijan at the center of the next five-year chairmanship. WUF13 Urban Agenda: As the World Urban Forum 13 winds down, Baku’s Practices Hub is showcasing “safe and resilient cities” housing solutions, turning public participation into a policy pipeline. Security & Justice Links: Azerbaijan’s Justice Minister met Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif, with both sides highlighting legal cooperation and extradition work. Regional Energy/Industry: SOCAR rebranded its training unit as the Caspian Training and Certification Center, while Serbia says basic terms for a SOCAR-backed gas power plant near Niš are agreed. Culture & Media: Azerbaijan pushes cultural-heritage security at WUF13 and keeps Eurovision momentum with JIVA set for tonight’s second semifinal.

Eurovision Countdown: The second Eurovision semi-final is under way in Vienna tonight, with Azerbaijan among the 15 acts chasing 10 final spots—after a tense opening night that saw Israel’s Noam Bettan qualify amid crowd backlash. Azerbaijan at Eurovision: Azerbaijan’s 2026 entry JIVA—Jamila Hashimova—returns to the spotlight after missing out in 2025, banking on a bilingual power ballad. Baku Diplomacy: Baku hosts the First General Assembly of the Global South NGO Platform, bringing together NGOs from 110+ countries and featuring Azerbaijani officials. Regional Energy Push: Azerbaijan’s energy role stays in focus as Baku’s corridor links Europe and Asia, while SOCAR and bp expand cooperation in Uzbekistan. Cultural Heritage Row: Azerbaijan is accused of vandalism targeting the cemetery of fallen freedom fighters in Vaghuhas, sparking fresh condemnation. EU/World Context: UNICEF warns inequality in rich countries is damaging children’s health and education—raising pressure on governments beyond the region.

Energy Diplomacy: Uzbekistan’s Mirziyoyev met SOCAR chief Rovshan Najaf and bp reps in Tashkent, backing new SOCAR-bp cooperation and a SOCAR Uzbekistan office as joint Ustyurt projects and long-term supplies move forward. Armenia-Turkey Normalisation: Turkey says “direct trade” rules are ready, letting shipments via third countries list Turkey/Armenia as origin/destination while border-opening technical work continues—another step in the post-2022 rapprochement. SOCAR Expansion in Europe: SOCAR’s acquisition of Italiana Petroli is followed by a leadership change, with Levan Davitashvili named CEO to drive integration and continuity. Security & Justice: India’s CBI helped extradite transnational heroin suspect Prabhdeep Singh from Azerbaijan after three years on the run. Regional Watch: A Microsoft-linked report flags uneven AI adoption across Central Asia, with Azerbaijan ahead of the region. WUF13 Countdown: Baku is ramping up for World Urban Forum 13 at the Olympic Stadium, with traffic and venue readiness under media review.

Peace Talks in London: Armenian and Azerbaijani experts met in London to discuss the current stage of the peace process, stressing that lasting settlement now depends on dialogue and public trust—not just deals. Cultural Heritage Row: Azerbaijanis were accused of desecrating fighters’ graves in an Artsakh village, with Armenian groups calling it deliberate erasure of Armenian memory. Justice and Extradition: India secured the extradition of wanted fugitive Prabhdeep Singh from Azerbaijan, tied to an NDPS drug case. Karabakh Closure: Remains of three missing Karabakh War servicemen identified through the State Commission will be laid to rest on May 15 in Fuzuli. Energy and Trade: Azeri Light crude jumped above $115 a barrel as a global oil rally picked up; meanwhile, Baku port is set to boost container capacity on the Baku–Turkmenbashi route with a new vessel. Diplomacy and Economy: Azerbaijan’s leaders also kept up regional outreach, including a call with Pakistan ahead of WUF13 in Baku.

Islamic Finance Watch: Fitch says Central Asia’s Islamic finance is set to grow as reforms take hold and Gulf investors step in, but it’s still tiny—banking shares are expected to stay under 1.5% by end-2026, with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan building regulatory foundations. Middle East Security: The UK is preparing a Strait of Hormuz defensive mission with mine-hunters, drone boats and jets, while the wider region stays tense as Washington and Iran trade proposals. Azerbaijan Diplomacy: President Ilham Aliyev spoke by phone with Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif, with both sides flagging World Urban Forum momentum and Middle East peace efforts. WUF13 Prep: Aliyev reviewed preparations at Baku Olympic Stadium for WUF13, with the venue mapped for thousands of delegates and parallel sessions. Regional Politics: Armenia’s FM Mirzoyan says there are no talks yet on signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan, while also pointing to step-by-step border normalization. Health Update: Azerbaijan’s Health Ministry says there’s no hantavirus outbreak risk, citing stable conditions and WHO-aligned monitoring.