Baku, 9 June 2021 – Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Rauf Hajiyev, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Charu Bist and Head of the Political, Press and Information Section at the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Zoltan Szalai announced the winners of Azerbaijan’s #GenerationRestoration: Drawing & Painting Kids Competition, organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the EU and UNDP to mark World Environment Day.

In her opening address, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Charu Bist highlighted that in the next ten years, and with the launch of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration “we need to replant and protect our forests, clean up rivers, seas and oceans and green our cities in order to avert a climate catastrophe, turn back pollution and end species loss. UNDP remains committed to support the Government and the people of Azerbaijan in ensuring a greener and more sustainable future for all”.

“The European Union is at the forefront of the fight against climate change. With its new Green Deal it has set very ambitious goals for emissions reduction and encourages its partners worldwide to join this effort. Our cooperation with Azerbaijan is a good example in this regard. Today’s event is supported by the EU4 Climate regional programme, which with its regional EU4 - sister projects covers cooperation in the fields of water, environment, energy and many more,” said Head of the Political, Press and Information Section at the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, Zoltan Szalai.

Some 200 children aged 7-12 applied for the competition, contributing to help raise awareness about the importance of environmental protection.

A jury composed of development and environment experts reviewed all submissions.

The best 6 works were awarded with bookstore gift cards, certificates and drawing kits. The awards were presented in two age categories – 7-9 and 10-12.

Winners in the 7-9 age category:

The first prize (100 AZN bookstore gift card) was awarded to Kovsar Qurban.

The second prize (70 AZN bookstore gift card) was awarded to Khadija Azimli.

The third prize (50 AZN bookstore gift card) was awarded to Konul Mammadova.

Winners in the 10-12 age category:

The first prize (100 AZN bookstore gift card) was awarded to Aylin Aliyeva.

The second prize (70 AZN bookstore gift card) was awarded to Sehri Zeynalabdinova.

The third prize (50 AZN bookstore gift card) was awarded to Mehriban Imamverdiyeva.

Additionally, certificates of acknowledgement and achievement and drawing kits were presented to 44 children.

*This drawing and painting competition was organized as part of the EU4Climate project which is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources in Azerbaijan.

Media contact:

For media inquiries, please contact Dilara Umudova, Communications Officer for UNDP in Azerbaijan at dilara.umudova@undp.org.

Gulnara Bayramova, Press and Information Officer at the Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan at gulnara.bayramova@eeas.europa.eu.

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