The head of the Milli Majlis Committee for International and Inter-Parliamentary Relations Samad Seyidov spoke at the first committee meeting in the spring parliamentary session on 19 January to congratulate the MPs on the start of the session and to introduce a five-item agenda of the meeting.

Mr Seyidov began by tabling an account of the work done by the committee during the past autumn session of 2022; that was followed by a draft scope of work for the current parliamentary session.

It followed from the former that the committee had had 16 meetings and had discussed 45 matters, the committee’s chairman and members had held meetings with ambassadors, envoys of other countries and organisations stationed in our country, and various inbound delegations during the expired session. During it, the committee had received 1,844 applications, complaints and other messages and had taken action appropriately, including by sending letters to concerned departments and ministries. Besides, the MPs that are member of the committee had held surgeries, both online and IRL.

As regard the 2023 spring-session work plan, it envisages the processing of draft laws incoming by way of legislative initiatives, passing opinion statements on documents concerning the procedures for ratifying, fulfilling and terminating international and inter-state treaties, making more extensive efforts to promote inter-parliamentary connexions and so forth.

Comments and offers came in response to the presentation from the committee members Kamran Bayramov, Sahib Aliyev and Nasib Mahamaliyev, whereafter both the 2022 autumn-session account and the 2023 spring-session scope were approved.

The committee turned to the Bills on its agenda.

The committee leader told them of the draft law on ratifying the International Labour Organisation’s Occupational Safety and Heath Convention No 155 which applies to all economic activity areas and according to which compliance with safety, health and work environment laws and regulations is ensured by an adequate and targeted inspection system. There should be training for employers and employees in aid of proper fulfilment of their legal obligations, it follows from the convention.

Next, Samad Seyidov brought up a draft compendium of amendments to the laws ‘On Local Opinion Polls’, ‘On Motoring Roads’, ‘On the Diplomatic Service’, ‘On Statement Procurement’, ‘On the Youth Policy’, ‘On the State Language of the Republic of Azerbaijan’, ‘On Environmental Education and Public Enlightenment’, ‘On the State Policy concerning Azerbaijanis Living Abroad’, ‘On Regulated Prices’ and ‘On Banks’. All those amendments are on the harmonising side and come across due to the application of the Media Law, as the committee chairman said before moving on to the next agenda item.

That was a Bill of Ratification regarding the Charter of the Research Centre of the Economic Co-operation Organisation.

Issues du jour were discussed then. Samad Seyidov as well as Rasim Musabeyov, Elman Nasirov, Sahib Aliyev, Asim Mollazade and Nasib Mahamaliyev covered such topics as, for example, promoting co-operation in international organisations, making the true voice of Azerbaijan be heard by public at large, and a more diligent action to strengthen our country’s stances in the world.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis