Speaker of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova and Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic Richard Raši made a joint press declaration following their bilateral meeting today.

Saying that this visit signalled a high level of the inter-parliamentary connections between Azerbaijan and Slovakia, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova mentioned her own official visit to Slovakia of October 2021. She stressed that that visit was the first arrival of Speaker of the Milli Majlis in Slovakia, and subsequently the Speaker of the Parliament of Slovakia had paid one official and two working visits to Azerbaijan. According to her, all those trips come as the outcome of the two sides’ consistent approach to the developing of inter-parliamentary links.

Describing the inter-parliamentary co-operation as a component of the Azerbaijani-Slovak relations, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis observed that the relations between our countries have in general advanced considerably, especially, these past years, having reached the extent of strategic partnership. The Speaker underlined the importance of the reciprocal visits of the Heads of State and of Government in the achievement of the present-day high level of the relations before remarking that those visits and meetings manifested an active political dialogue apace between the two countries. It is that dialogue precisely that enables the Heads of State to assess the current condition of the relations and consider new co-operation areas.

As regards the bilateral relations, Sahiba Gafarova mentioned the already-existing successful co-operation between our countries in such areas as economy, trade, energy and defence industry. At the same time, there exists a great potential to expand relations along other lines as well.

Referring to today’s signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries concerning co-operation between the Parliaments, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova remarked that that document would lead to a yet greater expansion of our relationship. In particular, the document encompasses several crucial co-operation vectors related to the Friendship Groups, pertaining committees, delegations to international organisations and the Staffs of the Parliaments.

Sahiba Gafarova mentioned the forthcoming travel to our de-occupied territories in the format of the visit of the Speaker of the Parliament of Slovakia to Azerbaijan, stressing then that this was going to be Richard Raši’s second visit to Garabagh. According to her, the scale of the restoration work carried out in Garabagh since 2022 will be a pleasant surprise to Richard Raši. Besides, the delegation of the Slovak Parliament are going to visit the village of Bash Garvand in Aghdam Province. It was mentioned that the construction of that village is being done by Slovak companies.

Slovakia’s support to Azerbaijan in the restoration of Garabagh is valued highly, according to Sahiba Gafarova who proceeded to emphasise that the village in question will be one of the specimens of the Azerbaijani-Slovak friendship in the de-occupied lands.

Speaker of the National Council of Slovakia Richard Raši, in turn, mentioned having visited Azerbaijan in various capacities a few times already. He referred to his current official visit as Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic as another contribution to the deepening of the bilateral relations.

Expressing contentment with the high level of the relations between Slovakia and Azerbaijan, the Speaker of the National Council mentioned in this relation the special gravitas of the Strategic Partnership Treaty signed during the official visit of the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic to Baku in May 2024. He said that that partnership was already bringing forth tangible results in energy, defence industry, infrastructure, information technologies, tourism and restoration of Garabagh; besides, this positive dynamic is manifest in the intensification of high-level contacts.

Richard Raši remarked that the main goal of his current visit is to continue the strengthening of the parliamentary dimension of the relations; he went on to describe the meeting held today also as an extension of the official visit of the Speaker of the Milli Majlis to the Slovak Republic in 2021. Saying that the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the parties afforded a solid institutional basis for the future development of our relations, the Speaker added that the Memorandum also formed a foundation for intensive co-operation amongst committees as well as for reciprocal visits of parliamentary delegations and exchange of advanced experience between the Staffs of our Parliament.

Not only are the Parliaments legislative institutions but they can also become formidable economic diplomatic drivers, Richard Raši pointed out as he was saying that our countries are committed to active growth of the economic ties and that Slovakia is proud of her input in the restoration of the de-occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

The Speaker of the National Council of Slovakia mentioned his going to go to Garabagh once more during the current visit to observe in situ the progress of the restoration work; he also voiced satisfaction with the advancement of the co-operation of our countries in other fields including energy, defence industry and tourism.

He stressed that Slovakia and Azerbaijan are strategic partners whereas today’s processes are indicative of a truly powerful development phase that our relations are going through in terms of economic, parliamentary and personal contacts. What else Richard Raši said was that Slovakia remains a dependable and balanced partner of Azerbaijan’s in the European arena and that his country intended to continue developing this partnership with yet more intensity henceforth.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis