Filippo Grandi, the High Commissioner for Refugees, engaged in a significant discussion on the global refugee crisis with members of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, chaired by Co-Chair, former President of Latvia Madame Vaira Vike-Freiberga. 
The meeting of the pressing challenges faced by over 108.4 million displaced individuals worldwide by the end of 2022, emphasizes the need for international solidarity and action. Also discussed Summit of the Future, XI Global Baku Forum, and COP29 Azerbaijan.
Co-chair Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Board Members presented the special edition of "The Magic of the Pen"  Selected Miniatures from the Khamsa of Nizami Ganjavi to the High Commissioner.

     On January 11, Members of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center held a significant meeting with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The discussions focused on diving into the future of globalization, world trade dynamics, and preparations for COP29.

     During the meeting, a special publication by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, titled “The Magic of the Pen” Miniatures from the Khamsa of Nizami Ganjavi, was presented to the Director-General.

On January 10-13, the Nizami Ganjavi International Center held its 27th High-Level Meeting in Geneva in partnership with the UN Geneva office.
Health, Peace and Security, Artificial Intelligence, Multilateralism, and many other important issues were discussed at the meeting under the title "The Future of Multilateralism: The Need for a New Global Order for Future International Cooperation."
At the opening of the meeting, Co-Chairs of NGIC, Madam Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Dr. Ismail Serageldin; Director General of the UN Geneva office, Tatiana Valovaya; former President of Finland, Tarja Halonen; and former President of Serbia, Boris Tadic spoke.
Among them, the Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; the Director General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonyo-Iweala; the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi; the Deputy Secretary-General of the Information Technology Union, Tomas Lamanauskas; Former President of Bulgaria, Rosen Plevneliev; former President of Croatia, Ivo Josipovic; former President of Slovenia, Borut Pahor; former Prime Minister of Moldova, Chiril Gaburici; former Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Amre Moussa; along with 20 other former heads of state and government from over 30 countries around the world, have come together for this initiative, and more than 70 other dignitaries attended.
Also, within the framework of the event, discussions were held in preparation for the XI Global Baku Forum and COP29.

Nizami Ganjavi International Center officially partnered with the "Imperial Springs Forum 2023" meeting held in the People's Republic of China. The meeting was attended by more than 20 members of the institution, including former President of Serbia Boris Tadic, former President of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev, former Prime Minister of Belgium Yves Leterme and former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik, under the leadership of the co-chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center and former President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga. member of the team participated.

At the opening ceremony of the event, the address of the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, addressed to the participants of the event was presented. Later, the co-chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, shared her personal experience as the president of her country. 

At the closing ceremony of the forum, Vaira Vike-Freiberga officially invited the event participants to the 11th Global Baku Forum to be held in 2024.

Within the framework of the event, the members of the Center met with the Vice President of the People's Republic of China, Han Cheng. During the meeting, Vaira Vike-Freiberga and other members gave Han Cheng detailed information about the upcoming 11th Global Baku Forum and the projects implemented by the Center with its partners in the People's Republic of China. Also, in their interviews with local and foreign media representatives, the members of the Center touched upon the topics of global problems, political issues, strengthening of multilateralism and emphasized the important role played by the members of the Center in solving these issues.

The Secretary General of the NGIC held meetings with the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Mr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the UN Geneva Office, Mrs. Tatiana Valovaya, and the Executive Director of UNAIDS and the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Mrs. Winnie Byanyima. The importance of the High-Level Meeting, the contributions that the members of the Center can make, preparations for the XI Global Baku Forum, the XXVII High-Level Meeting to be organized by the NGIC in Geneva and the meetings to be held with the Center at the Big 20 Summit in Brazil were discussed.

It should be noted that during the 11 years that the Nizami Ganjavi International Center has been in operation, the World Health Organization, UNIDO, International Atomic Energy Agency, UN Women, UN Alliance of Civilizations, UN HIV/AIDS, World Trade Organization, International Organization for Migration, World Agriculture, which are part of the UN structure, The organization has established close cooperation with the United Nations Development Program.

Nizami Ganjavi International Center held an international conference on "The future of the European Union from the perspective of neighboring countries" with the Institute of International Relations of Latvia.

At the meeting, the future scenarios that await the European Union (EU): views and expectations of EU members and EU neighbors; views of NATO member and non-member countries regarding sustainable security; new geopolitical dynamics in the South Caucasus; Prospects of integration of the Western Balkans into the EU were discussed.

The Co-chair of the Center and the former President of Latvia Mrs. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the former President of Slovenia Borut Pahor, the former Presidents of Latvia Valdis Zatlers, Egils Levits, Former President of Serbia Boris Tadic, former President of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mladen Ivanic, 73rd President of the UN General Assembly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former Deputy Prime Minister of Romania Ana Birchal, former Minister of Defense of Montenegro Milica Pejanovic, former Prime Minister of Latvia Laimdota Straujuma, former Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense Artis Pabriks attended the meeting.

Within the framework of the event, the former President of Latvia Egils Levits joined Nizami Ganjavi International Center as a member.

The members of the Center also participated in the Riga Conference 2023, which is traditionally held in Latvia.
The Riga Conference brings together regional and international experts, scientists, journalists covering international events and decision-makers in the field of foreign policy and defense. The conference promotes discussion and evaluation of issues affecting the transatlantic community. Since 2006, the conference held in the capital of Latvia has become a traditional meeting held every year in the region

Nizami Ganjavi International Center Hosts 26th High-Level Meeting Amidst the 78th UN General Assembly

Amidst the esteemed proceedings of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly, the Nizami Ganjavi International Center convened a significant High-Level Meeting, exploring the theme of "Shaping the Future: Relaunching Multilateralism." This pivotal gathering witnessed the participation of a distinguished assembly, comprising over 40 former heads of countries and governments, more than 30 former foreign ministers, and in excess of 10 heads of international organizations, representing 20 nations from across the globe.

Regarded as the largest congregation of former leaders within the annals of the UN General Assembly, this meeting served as a testament to the collective commitment towards fostering dialogue, cooperation, and progress on the global stage.

Among the illustrious attendees were notable figures such as President Bayram Begai of Albania, President Jose Ramos Horta of East Timor, Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic of Montenegro, President Stevo Pendarovski of North Macedonia, and Director-General Dr. Tedros Adanom Gebreyesus of the World Health Organization. Also in attendance were esteemed dignitaries including the current President of the UN General Assembly, Denis French, Executive Director Kristalina Georgeva of the International Monetary Fund, High Representative Miguel Angel Moratinos of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, Executive Director Sima Bahos of the UN Women's organization, UN Development Program Administrator Achim Stayner, Executive Director Mrs. Vinnie Byanyima of the UN HIV-AIDS program, and Vice-President David Graff of "Google."

Additionally, the gathering witnessed the presence of eminent past Presidents and Prime Ministers, including Volkan Bozkir, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Vuk Jeremich, Ksaba Korosi, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Egils Levits, Boris Tadic, Rosen Plevneliyev, Borut Pahor, Tarja Halonen, and Ivo Josipovic. Former heads of government, such as Gordon Broun, Binali Yildirim, and Werner Faymann, along with former Foreign Ministers Stefan Lohfe, Zlatko Lagumdzija, George Papandreou, Jan Fischer, and other distinguished personalities, graced the occasion with their esteemed presence.

The agenda of the high-level meeting encompassed a diverse array of critical topics, ranging from multilateralism and Climate Change to deliberations on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the pivotal roles of UN agencies within the G20 framework, the empowerment of women in fostering peace and security, global cooperation initiatives, and the implications of Artificial Intelligence on the global landscape.

In essence, the gathering epitomized a collaborative endeavor towards charting a course for a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future for all nations.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. An international symposium was held in Beijing jointly organized by the Institute of Foreign Relations of China, Nizami Ganjavi International Center, Chongyan Financial Institute and Renmin University of China.

The event brought together experts, diplomats and former heads of government of the “One Belt-One Road” countries, members of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, to discuss the progress and prospects of the global infrastructure initiative.

Former Serbian President Boris Tadic said that over the past 10 years, the “One Belt-One Road” Initiative has played a transformative role in the global arena, bringing more multilateralism to the world than ever before, and at the same time creating better conditions for the countries in the direction of this initiative. The Middle Corridor project is another important development initiative for trade and partnership between Europe and Asia, bringing together China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Turkey, the Western Balkans and the European Union.

Former prime minister of Kyrgyzstan Djoomart Otorbaev noted that two highways have already been built between China and Kyrgyzstan. This will bring great benefits to both countries and the whole region, including the South Caucasus. The” One Belt-One Road " Initiative has all the potential to play a greater role in global development and management.

Former prime minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zlatko Lagumdzija said that the “One Belt-One Road” initiative is actually changing the paradigm of how we can do things together for mutual benefit. This initiative is a very concrete step forward in the direction of a larger landscape with the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN.

“We attach importance to the initiatives implemented by China, and at the annual Global Baku Forum, joint discussions are held with partner organizations on the importance of “One Belt-One Road” at the global level, " he said.

In foreign media, including CCTV, “Xinhua News Agency”, CGTN, “China News”, “China Daily Economic Daily”, “Liberation Daily China macro network”, “Beijing Daily”, “people's Daily Overseas Network”, “Hubei TV”, “First Financial Television”, “Hong Kong China Rating Agency”, US NBC, “Pakistan Independent News”, “American Market News Service International”, “Sankei Shimbun” articles about the conference were published.

Nizami Ganjavi International Center held meetings with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and heads of a number of UN agencies. As a result of the meetings, the Center is holding high-level meetings with the heads of UN agencies in order to hold discussions in the direction of strengthening existing cooperation.

They held meetings with the 77th President of the UNGA (current) Ksaba Korosi, the 78th President (elected) Dennis Francis, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Program Achim Steiner, the Chief Executive Officer and President of the US National Committee on Foreign Policy, Mrs. Suzanne Elliott and office of the High Representative of the Alliance of Civilizations.

The Center was represented by Co-chair and former Vice-president of the World Bank, Dr. Ismail Sarageldin, former Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina and UN Ambassador Zlatko Lagumdzia, and Secretary General Rovshan Muradov.

During the meetings, discussions were held regarding the XXVI High-Level Meeting of the Center to be held in New York in September within the framework of the UN General Assembly, and the preparatory phase of the XI Global Baku Forum to be held in March 2024.

On July 7-9, the Digital Leadership Forum was held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, organized by the Ministry of Digital Technologies of this country.

More than 300 representatives participated in the annual meeting where large investments in the IT sector and the country were discussed.

Members of the Center - former President of Serbia Boris Tadic, former President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili, former Prime Ministers of Moldova and Kyrgyzstan Kiril Gaburici and Comart Otorbayev, President of the American National Relations Committee Mrs. Susan Elliott participated in various panels of the Forum.

The forum was attended by various speakers from leading organizations, including the world's leading IT service and product companies.

Within the framework of the forum, the members of the Center met with the Digital Technologies Minister of Uzbekistan, Sherzod Shermatov. At the meeting, the book “Magic of the Pen” Selected Manuscripts from Nizami Ganjavi's "Khamsa" published by the Center within the framework of the "Year of Nizami" announced by the Decree of the President of Azerbaijan, was presented to the minister.