Today members of the U.S. Embassy community, the representatives of IREX Azerbaijan, American Councils Azerbaijan , and UGRAD and FLEX programs alumni performed a day of public service to commemorate the attacks of September 11, 2001 on New York City and Washington D.C. The volunteers delivered donations from the U.S. Embassy community and offered up their time in service of the Azerbaijani Street Children's Shelter, setting up new beds and appliances. Ambassador Richard Morningstar visited the site and offered remarks in commemoration of the 11th anniversary of the attacks.
In the spirit of President Obama's overall call to service, September 11 has been designated as a National Day of Service and Remembrance by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act in 2009. Americans are encouraged to serve the communities in which they live to provide a respectful and productive way to rekindle the sense of unity and sympathy that prevailed in the days following this tragic event.
Ambassador Morningstar stated: "What we are doing here today is an effort by our Embassy to give back to the Azerbaijani community by working with this shelter and making their children's lives a little bit easier. Our combined efforts here at this shelter should be symbolic of the United States-Azerbaijani relationship. We are working together with our Azerbaijani friends to enhance that relationship and improve the lives of those who live here."
The majority of the funds used for this donations are provided by a grant from the J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service Trust - a charitable fund established in the memory of Kirby Simon, a Foreign Service Officer who died in 1995 while serving in Taiwan. The Trust is committed to expanding the opportunities for community service, professional fulfillment and personal well-being of Foreign Service Officers and Specialists and their families. The Trust has been funded with contributions from Kirby Simon's colleagues, friends and relatives and other persons interested in the purposes of the Trust.
The Street Children's Shelter, part of the Azerbaijani Children's Union (ACU), opened in 2007 and provides a home and sleeping quarters for street-kids. The mission of ACU is to "prepare children and teenagers for independent life and to advocate for the development of community services, especially education and health care." The goals of the mission are to strengthen children's social and economic conditions, health care, education, social and legal support, and to advocate for the legal status of the children and youth. The talented teenagers at the shelter have been involved in several art projects, including breakdancing workshops and photography exhibitions. -0-
Politics
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Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan made an unexpected statement during a government session, emphasizing the need for a strategic deal with Azerbaijan. According to him, the future peaceful coexistence of the two countries must be guaranteed for the next century, and addressing this issue is the most crucial and fundamental task for both sides.
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A new draft agreement on financing climate programs, unveiled at the 29th session of the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP29), proposes allocating at least $1.3 trillion (€1.23 trillion) annually for climate protection measures and adaptation to the impact of climate change, according to a 34-page document released on Wednesday. The draft, developed with input from developing nations, aims to address the needs of the world's poorest countries, though several contentious issues remain unresolved, AFP reported.
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On November 13, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Afghan Taliban held talks in Baku as part of the COP29 conference. According to a report by Turan correspondent, the discussions took place behind closed doors and lasted for over an hour. No statements were made to the press following the meeting. Furthermore, conference security prevented journalists from asking questions to the meeting participants.
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Kichikhanim Khalilova, the wife of arrested public activist and first-group disabled person, Famil Khalilov, reported being followed during her time at the COP29 conference on November 13. She had been accredited in the "Green Zone" as a civil rights activist. From the moment she entered the conference area, a young man began to follow her.
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