Yalchin Rafiyev

Deputy Foreign Minister, Chief Negotiator for the COP29 Presidency, Yalchin Rafiyev has more than 17 years of multilateral experience in international negotiations, peace and security, sustainable development goals and multilateral cooperation. Yalchin Rafiyev was born in on 9 February 1987. He holds a master´s degree from the International Anti-Corruption Academy (2014-2016) and completed his undergraduate degree with distinction in International Relations from the Baku State University. He is alumnus of the NATO Defence College in Rome (2010-2011). As a career diplomat Mr. Rafiyev has dedicated his professional life to diplomatic service. He joined in the foreign service in 2007 and has held various positions, including diplomat at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Austria and Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva. He held senior positions at the MFA. From 2019 to 2023 he served as Director of the International Security Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan between 2019-2023. In this capacity, he was responsible for multilateral diplomacy, including cooperation with the United Nations and the UN system bodies, Azerbaijani Chairmanship to the Non-Alignment Movement, attainment of Sustainable Development Goals. He led and participated in various negotiation processes. By the Presidential Order of 8 September 2023, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was designated the Chief Negotiator for the COP29 Presidency in January 2024. He has received several state honours, including “Distinction in the diplomatic service” medal by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He was awarded the diplomatic rank of “envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary of second class” by the President of Azerbaijan. He is married and has two children.