Chair of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova has responded to the letter from President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola.

Ms Gafarova writes in a reply letter that co-operation between the legislative branches gains a special importance in light of the excellent relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the European Union, and even greater prospects for future development of these relations.

‘The Milli Majlis has always demonstrated its readiness to deepen the interaction with the European Parliament. I also appreciate your words on commitment of the European Parliament to continue building good relations with the Milli Majlis in the spirit of mutual respect,’ goes Mrs Gafarova’s letter.

‘Having said this, I would like to note that members of our parliament, who are also represented in international co-operation mechanisms, have every right to express freely their opinion on the issues that fall within their duties and responsibilities. Censorship is not tolerated in our parliament.’

‘Based on the intention of further expanding dialogue with their European counterparts, our delegates to the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (PCC) have been active in communicating with their colleagues and working on new initiatives aimed at developing mutually beneficial collaboration. However, we would like to see the same level of engagement from the European Parliament. False, biased and one-sided accusations expressed in prejudiced statements and resolutions cannot be regarded as constructive criticism and do not serve for the stated objectives. Also, the PCC should become a platform conducive to enhancement of cooperation between the Milli Majlis and the European Parliament through joint efforts, which it is intended for.’

The Chair of the Milli Majlis concludes her letter by stating that she looks forward to strengthening our co-operation based on mutual trust and understanding.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis