Sahiba Gafarova: Azerbaijan supports beneficial cooperation based on equality and mutual respect
On July 31, as part of her visit to the Republic of South Africa, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova took part in the Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments held in the city of Midrand.
As reported by the parliament's press and public relations department, the event, organized by the Pan-African Parliament, was attended by speakers of national and regional parliaments of African countries, as well as heads and representatives of international parliamentary organizations.
Speaking at the conference, S. Gafarova touched upon the profound transformations taking place in the modern system of international relations, ongoing conflicts, economic inequality, and challenges related to climate change. She noted that under current conditions, when trust in international institutions is facing ever greater pressure, parliaments cannot remain on the sidelines of global decision-making processes. It was emphasized that parliaments express the voice of citizens, convey national realities to the international community, and contribute to reflecting political commitments in legislation as well as in concrete practical activity.
Noting the growing role of parliaments in addressing global challenges, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis stated that today parliaments are not only institutions performing national legislative functions, but also important participants in the development of international cooperation. Emphasizing that at this event she represents first of all the parliament of Azerbaijan, as well as the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement, of which she is the chair, Sahiba Gafarova informed the participants that today this Network, uniting the parliaments of more than 70 countries, including the legislative bodies of most African states, has, thanks to joint efforts, become an authoritative international platform of parliamentary cooperation making a significant contribution to the development of inter-parliamentary interaction.
She also dwelled on the importance of multilateral cooperation and parliamentary diplomacy amid complex contemporary challenges. In this context, S. Gafarova drew attention to the important role of the Pan-African Parliament. Emphasizing that this organization also contributes to the implementation of the goals enshrined in "Agenda Africa 2063," which envisages the creation of a peaceful, prosperous, and integrated Africa governed by its own peoples and occupying a worthy place in the international community, she noted that Azerbaijan holds this vision in deep respect. According to her, our country attaches great importance to relations with African states and supports mutually beneficial cooperation based on equality and mutual respect.
The Speaker of the Milli Majlis added that today Africa must be represented in the world not only by its numbers, but also by its ideas, priorities, and leadership.
Touching upon the prospects for the development of multilateral cooperation and parliamentary diplomacy, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis particularly noted the role of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) as an important global parliamentary platform uniting various political systems and regions.
Sahiba Gafarova emphasized that further strengthening cooperation between the IPU and regional parliamentary organizations such as the Pan-African Parliament is of special importance. It was noted that precisely through such interaction the IPU will be able to make use of the experience and political approaches of regional parliamentary organizations, while the Pan-African Parliament, in turn, using the IPU's global platform, will be able to bring Africa's priorities onto the international parliamentary agenda and further strengthen the continent's role in parliamentary diplomacy.
