Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova met with the participants of the 67^th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Judges on 15 October.

Welcoming the participants of the 67^th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Judges to the Milli Majlis, Sahiba Gafarova remarked that, bringing together national Judges’ Associations from approximately 100 countries, this Organisation serves as an important platform for dialogue and co-operation.

The hosting of this event in Azerbaijan this year has symbolic importance for our country. 2025 was declared as the ‘Year of Constitution and Sovereignty’ in our country to the orders of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr Ilham Aliyev. Our Constitution was developed and adopted under the leadership of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev thirty years ago in 1995.

The Constitution proclaims the principle of separation of powers, according to which the legislative, executive and judicial powers interact and are independent within the limits of their respective authority fields.

The Speaker of Parliament said that, as is stated in the address to the event participants of President Mr Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s obtaining the right to host the 67^th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Judges is a testament to our country’s growing international standing and reflects the global legal community’s confidence and trust in its judicial and legal system.

Then, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova provided information about the history of the Azerbaijani parliamentarism.

The Speaker of the Milli Majlis mentioned at the meeting the Parliament’s discharging the legislative, representative and oversight functions, proceeding to say that, in accordance with its primary functions, the Parliament adopts the Constitutional laws and also laws and resolutions concerning the issues falling under its competence. As she then said, the representative function of the parliament is of great importance. In line with this function, parliamentarians bring issues raised by their constituents to the attention of the government, municipalities and other relevant bodies, and exert effort to find solutions corresponding to their needs and demands.

Discussing the oversight function, the Speaker said that, pursuant to the Constitution, the Milli Majlis approves the state budget and oversees its implementation through the Chamber of Accounts formed by the Parliament. The Chamber of Accounts submits an annual report on its activities to the Milli Majlis subject to the legislation. The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan also reports on its activities to the Milli Majlis every year during the spring session.

It was brought to the attention of the visitors that the relationship between the Milli Majlis and the judiciary has the nature of co-operation. Judicial reform initiatives are continuously debated, refined and approved by the Parliament.  

The Speaker of the Milli Majlis said that the current VII convocation of the Milli Majlis had been elected in September 2024. Those elections were held in the entire territory of our country for the first time during the period of independence. As you know, 20 per cent of the territory of Azerbaijan was under the occupation of Armenia for about 30 years. As a result of the 44-day Patriotic War in the autumn of 2020 and the 1-day anti-terrorist operation in September 2023, the Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur regions were liberated from occupation and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our state was established throughout its territory. That is why the said elections have been of historic significance for us.

In conclusion of her address Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova let it be known that she was certain that the outcomes of the 67^th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Judges will make a significant contribution to strengthening judicial independence and the rule of law.

Chief of Staff of the Milli Majlis Farid Hajiyev spoke at the event to welcome the participants of the 67^th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Judges to the Parliament and wish the work of the annual gathering success. Sharing his views on co-operation between parliament and judicial bodies, he remarked that the Milli Majlis supports a number of initiatives concerning the judicial system. It was noted that, based on submissions by the President of Azerbaijan, the Milli Majlis confirms nominations of Judges for the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeal as well as it does decisions regarding the status of judges, execution of court rulings and other matters. One member of the Judicial-Legal Council, a self-governing body of judges, is appointed specifically by the Milli Majlis.

Then, Farid Hajiyev provided information about the powers of the Parliament and the normative-legal acts regulating its activity by the use of slides. A discussion also took place regarding the Parliament's procedural rules and other normative-legal acts regulating the activity of MPs.

The Chief of Staff then spoke about the right of legislative initiative, giving detailed information about the procedural rules related to it. Also, Farid Hajiyev broached the structure of the legislative body.

Chairman of the Civil Collegium of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan Sanan Hajiyev and President of the International Association of Judges Walter Baron delivered speeches at the event. They expressed their gratitude for the meeting with the participants of the 67^th General Assembly of the International Association of Judges held in Baku and for the detailed presentation on the history, powers and legislative procedures of the Azerbaijani Parliament and the other matters related to it. The guests lauded the close co-operation between the Azerbaijani Parliament and the judiciary, voicing their contentment with being in Azerbaijan and highly appreciating the hospitality of our people.

A commemorative photograph was taken next.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis