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Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova had a meeting on 11 February with President of the Arab Parliament Mohamed Ahmed Al-Yammahi who is in our country on an official visit.
The first official visit of the President of the Arab Parliament to our country was praised highly at the meeting, with a confidence having been voiced that this visit would contribute considerably to the continued progress of the relations between the two organisations, expansion of co-operation opportunities and deepening of the mutual links. Sahiba Gafarova recalled fondly her meetings with the guest on the margins of various international events including the tête-à-tête with him in Cairo last year and their joint participation in the 2nd Session of the Women Parliamentary Forum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean in Abu Dhabi in January this year.
The successful advancement of the relations between Azerbaijan and the Arab states, reliant on the shared history, religious and cultural values and mutual respect principles, was mentioned during the conversation. Also, they high-lit the intense attention that the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev had been giving to developing the relations with those countries as well as to the present-day successful continuation of that policy by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The intensive nature of reciprocal visits, regular contacts and discussions held with the Arab states as well as that the results achieved fostered the relationships’ development materially was emphasised as well.
The conversation broached the endeavours by Azerbaijan to promote the Islamic religion, strengthen Islamic solidarity and counter the Islamophobia; the remarkable relevant initiatives that our country had put forward were underlined. Saying that mutual support and solidarity are demonstrated in the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation in which we are jointly represented, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis declared the assuredness that the co-operation on this platform will be continued. At the same time, attention was brought to the efficient co-operative ties between Azerbaijan and the League of Arab States that have gone on for twenty years, and President Ilham Aliyev’s participation in the League’s 2022 Summit as a special guest was mentioned as well.
Having mentioned the close attention paid to deepening the relations with the Arab countries and furthering the growth of the connexions in the parliamentary terms, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova let it be known that working groups for the majority of the Arab states function within the Milli Majlis and that reciprocal visits are paid, meetings are held, Memoranda of Understanding regarding co-operation are signed and reciprocal support and solidarity are manifested within international organisations.
Contentment was expressed during the conversation with the dynamic growth over the past years of the links between the Arab Parliament and the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement (PN NAM) incepted upon the instance of President Ilham Aliyev and operating under the Azerbaijani chairmanship currently. The Speaker of Parliament mentioned her having visited the Arab Parliament HQ during the trip to Cairo in February 2023 before underlining the significance of the Memorandum of Understanding about co-operation inked during that visit. It was remarked also that the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network having obtained the observer status at the Arab Parliament that same year had created new co-operation opportunities.
President of the Arab Parliament Mohamed Ahmed Al-Yammahi expressed gratitude for the hospitality shown, as well as his satisfaction with the official visit to Azerbaijan. Sharing impressions from the meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, the guest gave high appraisal to the Head of State's tireless activity directed towards establishing peace and stability in the South Caucasus. Emphasising the great importance attached by the Arab World to relations with Azerbaijan, Mohammed Ahmed Al-Yammahi voiced interest in deepening the partnership in such strategic spheres as trade, energy and logistics. Furthermore, the President of the Arab Parliament expressed appreciation of Azerbaijan’s resolute support being provided on matters on the Arab world's agenda, especially with regard to the Palestinian issue.
As he pointed at the transition of our parliaments’ relations to a new stage, the guest emphasised that the co-operation and dialogue established by the organisation he heads with the Milli Majlis and with the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement constitute a solid foundation for broadening the inter-parliamentary ties. He lauded highly the role of the Speaker of the Milli Majlis in the effective organisation of the Parliamentary Network's operation and pointed up the significance of this important parliament-uniting platform inasmuch as discussing global issues is concerned. Mohamed Ahmed Al-Yammahi also invited the Speaker of the Milli Majlis to participate in and address the plenary session of the Arab Parliament.
The guest was provided with information about the historical path traversed by the Republic of Azerbaijan and about the Milli Majlis as the meeting continued. The Speaker of Parliament informed him about the structure and activity of the Azerbaijani Parliament; she spoke about the representation of political parties and women in Parliament as well as about the conduct of the most recent parliamentary elections, drawing his attention to the fact that the composition of the Parliament of the current convocation had been formed following the elections held across the entire sovereign territory of Azerbaijan.
The guest signed the Memorable book of the Milli Majlis following the completion of the meeting.
The delegation led by Muhamed Ahmed Al-Yammahi acquainted themselves with the plenary sittings chamber of the Parliament and the ‘Victory Corner’ dedicated to the 44-day Patriotic War and established in the foyer of the Milli Majlis.
