Representatives of Azerbaijani civil society are organizing the protest, which is being held in front of the Baku Marriott Hotel Boulevard, the location of Pallone’s accommodations, Caliber. Citing local media, Az reports. In addition to pressing for criminal charges against Pallone’s security guards, who allegedly used violence against protesters during a peaceful march on November 16, protesters are demanding an apology from Pallone for his claimed defamatory remarks against Azerbaijan. In response to Pallone’s alleged anti-Azerbaijani position, banners bearing the phrases “Pallone, apologize or get out!” were put up.
The role of the pro-Armenian US Congressman
This is the second demonstration against Pallone in a short time. Azerbaijani nongovernmental organizations protested outside the same hotel on November 16 in response to Pallone’s pro-Armenian lobbying in the US Congress. Pallone’s presence in Baku infuriated members of these NGOs, particularly relatives of those dead or missing in the conflict with Armenia, who insisted that someone with such beliefs should not be allowed in Azerbaijan. Congressman Pallone has long been an outspoken opponent of Azerbaijan and is well-known for his close connections to Armenian advocacy organizations and other politicians like Adam Schiff and Bob Menendez. Despite his divisive political views, Baku’s attendance at the COP29 summit demonstrates his dedication to inclusivity and free discussion of world issues, especially when there are opposing viewpoints. Pallone’s visit follows a letter he spearheaded and signed by 60 US congressmen who support Armenia, calling on the US State Department to hold Azerbaijan responsible for alleged “hostage-taking, war crimes, and illegal occupation of Armenian territory.”
A platform for climate or politics?
COP29 is noteworthy since it is Azerbaijan’s first time hosting a COP conference and its biggest international event to date. It will take place at Baku Stadium from November 11–22. The UNFCCC Secretariat and the Azerbaijani government signed important agreements to kick off the summit. Establishing a New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) for climate financing is one of the main objectives of COP29. Green energy corridors, energy storage, climate resilience, clean hydrogen, and green digital technology are just a few of the 14 measures the president has presented to match climate action with the UN SDGs. The Climate Finance Action Fund is a flagship plan that seeks to keep global warming to 1.5°C. Azerbaijan’s dedication to climate action was emphasized by President Ilham Aliyev, who also said that the nation’s selection as host reflects international confidence in its climate leadership.
US-Armenia relations and Azerbaijani grievances
Azerbaijan is receiving a lot of the attention it has requested as it gets ready to host the global climate meeting this month. However, a large portion of the attention is negative, as is frequently the case when a high-profile international event is held in this autocratic, oil-rich state. Baku undoubtedly anticipated that after winning the proposal to host the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) from November 11–22, it would face criticism from organizations like Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International. However, it has also been criticized in the financial and business communities. It has been accused of using the COP-adjacent credibility to divert attention from its own “critically insufficient” climate plans, “launder” the reputation of authoritarian President Ilham Aliyev, and generally “greenwash” the regime, hiding its poor human rights record and other shortcomings, according to negative articles in the Financial Times and The Economist.
The impact on COP29 proceedings
Azerbaijan has previously gone through this practice. Large-scale events have always been seen by the nation as a means of achieving international recognition. In 2012, the Eurovision Song Contest was held there. In addition to hosting two Olympic-style events, the European Games in 2015 and the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017, it has made multiple unsuccessful bids to host the Summer Olympics. The downtown Baku area has been the site of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix since 2017. The Azerbaijani government is interested in sponsoring events of this nature for “brand-making purposes,” according to Najmin Kamilsoy, a public policy expert and doctorate candidate at Charles University in Prague. “The government is very sensitive to the negative attention of the international media ahead of the event,” he told RFE/RL simultaneously. “They want as many Western stakeholders as possible to attend COP29, and they want their organization of the event to be regarded as successful.” Due to significant occurrences in the past, Azerbaijan has received negative attention. Given the global stakes, however, COP29 may make the issue worse. “I don’t think the government was fully aware that COP was not Formula One or Eurovision, that it had global implications,” said journalist Arzu Geybulla of Azerbaijan, who co-authored a new report published by Chatham House, a think tank located in the United Kingdom.
