Yalchin Rafiyev

Yalchin Rafiyev is the Lead Negotiator for COP29 Azerbaijan. Mr. Rafiyev serves as Deputy Foreign Minister and has worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for almost two decades. He has served in multiple roles to advance multilateral diplomacy, including as Third and Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the UN Office in Vienna and the First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the UN Office in Geneva.

He has led the International Security Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan for some five years. Mr. Rafiyev holds an Honours degree from Baku State University and has completed post-graduate programs at the NATO Defense College and the International Anti-Corruption Academy.

In his role as Lead Negotiator, Mr. Rafiyev will work with the 198 Parties to the UNFCCC to build consensus and refine potential landing zones for the negotiations based on a shared vision of success, all within a fair and transparent process.