Rational and purposeful activity of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources that directed to environmental protection was successfully continued in the field of international cooperation in 2010 as well. Several documents on cooperation with region states, developed countries and international organizations were developed and agreement procedures were implemented.
As it is clear 2010 was declared the “Year of the Environment” in Azerbaijan by initiation of H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, president of the Republic of Azerbaijan and in this regard several important range meetings were organized.
Baku was announced by United Nations Environment Programme as one of the three central European cities, to widely celebrate the World Environment Day. Annually, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announces the main cities of Europe for celebrating the World Environment Day. In 2010 such status awarded to Genoa(Italy), Geneva (Switzerland) and Baku Azerbaijan). Within the framework of celebration of World Environment Day with participation of local and international delegates mass tree planting and tree surgery action were organized at Heydar Aliyev International Airport highway on 3 June 2010 in Baku.
Besides that the Government of Azerbaijan, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), hosted a high-level Pan European Conference on Biodiversity in Gabala, Azerbaijan on 7 July 2010, entitled Biodiversity for Development and Poverty Alleviation: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

The First International Ecology Exhibition "Azerbaijan for Green Earth-2010" was held on 16-18 September 2010 in Baku. Up to 50 international and local companies as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations took part at the abovementioned exhibition.

The expert group of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe visited Azerbaijan to develop the document on “Environmental Performance Review -2 for Azerbaijan”. The goal of the visit was to have a meeting with state and non-governmental organizations officials in order to collect relevant information and get acquaintance with the regions of the country. The mentioned review is expected to be published by UN Commission for Europe in the first quarter of 2011.

The works on building the cooperation with different countries in the field of environmental protection lasted in 2010 as well.

So, during the visit of the President of Belarus Republic to Azerbaijan an Agreement between the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Belarus on cooperation in the field of environment protection was signed on 3 June 2010.

And an Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the field of rational use and protection of waters resources of the border river Samur was signed on 2 September 2010 in the course of the visit of President of Russian Federation to Azerbaijan.

At the same time, “Agreement between the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Environment of Slovakia on cooperation in the field of environment protection” have been updated based on proposals of relevant state bodies and sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. But the Slovakian side in its turn informed via diplomatic channels that the Republic of Slovakia joined to “Environment for Europe” process of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in order to improve and protect of environment in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Caucasus regions within the framework of European cooperation and that this process create wide opportunities for cooperation in the field of environment protection and it is not possible to sign the abovementioned Agreement at the moment but is ready to cooperate with the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Also relevant documents with regard to build cooperation in the field of environment protection with France, Belarus, Lithuania and Syria have been prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic to be sent to opposite side.

For information Mr. H.Baghirov, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan was nominated as a co-chair of Intergovernmental Commission on trade, economic, scientific and technological co-operation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of India by Decree No 117 of the President of the of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 16 January 2006, and in this regard the first meeting of Intergovernmental Commission on trade, economic, scientific and technological co-operation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic and Protocol was signed as a result of aforementioned meeting. To present the “Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of India on cooperation in the field of environment and forests” have been updated based on the proposals of relevant state bodies of Azerbaijan Republic and sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic.

Currently the proposals of relevant state bodies with regard to “Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia on cooperation in the field of environment protection”, “Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Serbia on cooperation in the field of environment protection” are being generalized.

“European Landscape Convention” was translated into state language and ratification procedures from the Republic of Azerbaijan are being implemented.