Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova spoke at the co-ordinating meeting of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) in the course of her working visit to the United Republic of Tanzania to participate in the 153^rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The Speaker of the Milli Majlis informed those present that Azerbaijan's principal goals underpinning the assumption of the APA chairmanship in February 2024 included strengthening the Assembly's institutional capacity, organising its work more effectively and reinforcing its role as a platform for interparliamentary dialogue in Asia.

Mention was made of the important steps taken towards the institutional development of the APA during Azerbaijan's past chairmanship and of the revival of the Assembly's Bureau.

Sahiba Gafarova mentioned that 4 co-ordinating meetings had been organised during the Azerbaijani chairmanship of the APA, which meetings had generated opportunities to exchange opinions about international matters of shared interest as well as to accommodate positions and strengthen the APA’s links with a broader inter-parliamentary agenda. Furthering the growth of co-operation between the APA and other parliamentary organisations, too, is one of the priority areas of the chairmanship.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova touched in her speech upon the significance of multilateral inter-parliamentary co-operation. The significance of strengthening parliaments’ roles in making global decisions as well as of promoting co-operation with regional parliamentary organisations was emphasised as well.

So was the importance of inclusivity in ensuring sustainable development and active involvement of women, youth and unrepresented groups in parliamentary processes.

As the Speaker of the Milli Majlis pointed out, inter-parliamentary co-operation should provide an opportunity for diverse positions to be voiced upon a common platform and for the dialogue to be continued despite differences. She spoke of the importance of building up effective co-operation on the basis of listening to each other, consultations, respect for different opinions and a search for practical solutions.

Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova remarked as she was concluding her address that the experience accumulated within the APA over the two years past demonstrated once again the importance of co-operation amongst various regions, cultures and political views.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis