Baku, 13 March 2025 (MIA) — Fresh perspectives are needed to achieve lasting peace in which science and technology can be used for boosting the prosperity of humanity, said President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova at the opening of the 12th Global Baku Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In her speech, Siljanovska Davkova said the world had become "a much different place."

"Multilateralism has given way to multipolarization. Growing geopolitical rivalries are damaging our collective security system. The United Nations is being marginalized when we need it most. The post-World War II consensus has been called into question. It is as if we are living at the beginning of a new era in which our rules-based international system is being undermined," the Macedonian president said.

Citing German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's statement at the Munich Security Conference that "the absence of rules must not become the guiding principle of the new world order," Siljanovska-Davkova warned against "abandoning one of civilization's greatest achievements, the UN Charter."

She also posed the question what the rules would be and what they would be based on going forward.

"Will they be based on the principle of pacta sunt servanda or the principle of power? Do we also have conflicting values ​​and realities in addition to the conflicts of interests? Can we resolve the greatest crises and challenges of our times without common rules? What kind of world will we leave to young people and our future generations? These are just some of the questions we will be discussing at this year’s Global Baku Forum," Siljanovska Davkova said.

She also quoted former US Secretary of State and UN founder Cordell Hull's 1945 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in which he said "the crucial test for men and for nations today is whether or not they have suffered enough, and have learned enough, to put aside suspicion, prejudice and short-run and narrowly conceived interests and to unite in furtherance of their greatest common interest."

According to Siljanovska Davkova, the nations' greatest common interest is "a lasting peace in which the newly discovered powers of human science and technology can be harnessed to raise the prosperity of humanity to unprecedented heights."

"I believe the Global Baku Forum can offer us fresh perspectives on how to continue working toward achieving and preserving this highermost common interest," she said.

Next, she will address the panel "The UN Pact for the Future: Building a New Global Consensus Path to Peace." The forum's other panels include "Geopolitical Shifts: Responsible Partnerships versus Rivalry" and "Reimagining Multilateralism for a Multipolar World". Former Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov is one of the participants.

The 12th Global Baku Forum, titled "Rethinking World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities," is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center under the patronage of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

In his opening remarks, President Aliyev urged participants to share new ideas and proposals to respond to the "dramatic geopolitical changes."

He also said the forum would focus on ways to increase renewable energy capacity.

"We will double our potential, which will allow us to be an exporter not only of oil and gas, but also of green energy," Aliyev said, adding that the goals were realistic and based on already signed agreements.

He said Azerbaijan provided energy stability to many countries, including 12 European states, which was the reason the European Commission considered the country a reliable partner and supplier.

The 12th Global Baku Forum has gathered over 400 participants including current and former heads of state and government, Nobel Laureates, international organizations, and civil society. mr/