The Committee for Public Associations and Religious Entities of the Milli Majlis convened a meeting on 1 November to discuss the idea of strengthening the co-operation between the Parliament and non-governmental organisations.

Deputy Chair of the Milli Majlis/chairman of committee in question Fazail Ibrahimli brought to the assembly’s attention those factors that necessitate collaboration between parliament and civil society and, talking about the current geopolitical situation, underlined the crucial nature of solidarity. Azerbaijan had invoked new regional realia with her victory in the Patriotic War, Mr Ibrahimli added.

Turning then to the work of NGOs and the erstwhile presence of certain shortcomings in that field, Mr Ibrahimli said that the passing of the NGOs law had made sure the field was regulated properly. Azerbaijan is a country enjoying stability and security firmly in place; each one of us and we all together serve our state, our statehood, according to him.

The parliament committee’s member and chairman of the supervisory board of the NGOs State Support Agency Azay Guliyev, in turn, voiced his assuredness of the discussion at the meeting turning out fruitful. He also praised the relevant state policy and the work done so far. Civil activists should be more energetic when it comes to protecting our country’s interests worldwide, Mr Guliyev added.

Deputy chairman of the committee Sahib Aliyev and the members Sevinj Fataliyeva, Azer Badamov and Anar Isgandarov as well as head of the State-Building, Administrative and Military Legislation Department Haji Mirhashim Seyid commented on the meeting’s topic.

The reforms in various areas that are being implemented under the guidance of the Head of State incorporate the building of a new society which, by the way, had manifested its strength during the Patriotic War, the MPs said.

Besides, they underlined the importance of national solidarity and unity for keeping our state independence and wholeness of the national territory, and referred to the NGO’s pertaining and crucial role and, not least, the need to strengthen the parliament-civil society collaboration.

President of the National Forum of NGOs Rauf Zeyni brought up the triumph had under the leadership of the victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev and the new realia that exist in the region today, adding that the NGOs would remain capable to discharge their duty in defence of national interests and security of Azerbaijan meritoriously henceforth.

The NGO representatives who attended the meeting chimed in, too, putting forth their considerations and proposals. Those were Novella Jafarova chairing the Dilara Aliyeva Women’s Rights Defence Society of Azerbaijan, chair of the Public Association of Reformatory Women and Innovations Vusala Huseynli, chairman of the executive committee of the Citizens’ Working Rights Defence League Sahib Mammadov and president of the PA Social Strategic Studies and Analytical Research Ilgar Huseynli. The other NGO people who spoke up were chairman of the Free Reformers PA Eyub Huseynov, chairman of the Youth Enlightenment by Demobilised Military Servicemen PA Emin Hasanli, chairman of the Law and Development PA Hafiz Hasanov, chairman of the Social Development Support PA Umid Israyil Isgandarov and member of the board of the Economic Initiatives Assistance Centre Samir Aliyev. Opinions and suggestions came too from chairman of the Law and Human Rights Institute Muhammad Guluzade, chairman of the Municipalities Development Assistance PA Niyameddin Ordukhanli, chairman of the Society and Civil Relations Development PA Ahmad Abbasbayli, deputy chairman of the Patriotic War Veterans of Azerbaijan PA Vahid Abdurahmanov, chairman of the International Economic Studies PA Economics Fikret Yusifov and chair of the In the Name of Social Prosperity of Citizens PA Irada Rizazade.

Fazail Ibrahimli said the discussion had been fruitful and thanked the meeting participants for their active involvement.

MP Javanshir Pashazade, chairman of the Social Rights Research PA Mais Aliyev and chair of the Diabetes League of Azerbaijan PA Yegana Sultanova were present at the meeting as well.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis