A group of the Milli Majlis members – Samad Seyidov, Ganira Pashayeva, Sevinj Fataliyeva and Asim Mollazade – had a meeting with the UNESCO officials from several African countries on 29 September.

Themed The Role of Parliaments in Diplomacy, that meeting took place at the Milli Majlis as part of the co-operation with the ADA University and the UNESCO National Commission.

The chairman of the Milli Majlis International and Inter-Parliamentary Relations Committee Samad Seyidov began the meeting by greeting the guests and briefing them on the legislature of Azerbaijan, the political parties and the representation of women and various peoples in the Milli Majlis.

Mr Seyidov underlined the role of parliamentary diplomacy in the system of modern international relations, stressed the immense importance our country attaches to global inter-parliamentary collaboration and touched on both the institution of the Non-Aligned Movement’s Parliamentary Network at the suggestion of the Azerbaijani chairmanship of the NAM and the first Network conference held in Baku. Besides, Mr Seyidov outlined the significance of the PN for making peace and security stronger world-wide and for bolstering parliaments’ role in the international diplomatic context.

Azerbaijan’s having freed her lands in the Patriotic War of 44 days was mentioned then. Samad Seyidov supplied the guests with detailed information about the work our country is doing to eliminate the aftermath of the three decades of Armenian occupation and to solidify peace and economic co-operation in our region.

The deputy chair of the parliamentary committee Sevinj Fataliyeva and its member MP Asim Mollazade then talked about the many centuries of cultural, religious and ethnic diversity preserved in Azerbaijan and about the local traditions of tolerance. The first parliament and the first democratic, legal and secular state in the whole East had seen the light nowhere else but in Azerbaijan, they said. Then, the visitors were told of the engagement of the Milli Majlis in the work of international organisations and of the friendship groups functioning in the Azerbaijani legislature.

Next, Samad Seyidov, Asim Mollazade and Sevinj Fataliyeva answered the vis-à-vis’ questions about international co-operation, parliaments’ role in diplomacy and the opportunities afforded by parliamentary diplomacy. They also put across their ideas regarding the modern trends in diplomacy, legislatures’ place within the diplomatic field and a continued promotion of the growth of Azerbaijan’s relations with African states via the UNESCO.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis