Chair of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova met with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to our country Hamad bin Abdullah bin Saud bin Khudair on 10 March.

Madame Chair welcomed the guest kindly before pointing out that the relations of our countries had progressed to a new level qualitatively when Azerbaijan had become independent and had become stronger yet following the National Leader Heydar Aliyev’s official visit to Saudi Arabia in July 1994. Then, the meetings that took place during the visits of President Ilham Aliyev to the Kingdom and the bilateral documents that were signed there defined the advancement vectors of our relationship, according to Mrs Gafarova.

Those relations, which are in the interests of both nations, are progressing in the parliamentary aspect as well: the two legislatures have the friendship groups in action while our MPs meet and discuss the matters of common interest at the events of certain stature, which is very important in the bilateral context. Besides, Azerbaijani and Saudi MPs have the efficient co-operation under way in a number of international parliamentary assemblies.

Recalling that Azerbaijan had freed its lands from the occupation in the course of the Patriotic War, Madame Chair spoke of Saudi Arabia’s constant support to our country in various international organisations as well as of the Kingdom never making diplomatic relations with Armenia, a state set on an occupational course.

Mrs Gafarova also praised highly the event that the Saudi Parliament conducted in connection with the Khojali Tragedy in 2015, describing that as a sign of friendly care of our country.

Thanking for the sincere reception, Hamad bin Abdullah bin Saud bin Khudair told Mrs Gafarova of his attendance of several high-level meetings during his posting to Azerbaijan. He commended intensely the contribution that President Ilham Aliyev had made to the progress of the bipartite relations, adding that the bilateral documents covering very different areas of interest that had been signed to date served the cause of deepening the Saudi-Azerbaijani co-operation.

The already-mentioned friendship groups have a great role in the development of the interparliamentary collaboration; it is important that the deputies of both parliaments would meet regularly, according to Ambassador.

Saudi Arabia watched closely the developments as they unfolded over here during the 44-day Patriotic War and was in contact with the appropriate agencies of Azerbaijan. Hamad bin Abdullah bin Saud bin Khudair mentioned his trip to the liberated provinces of Azerbaijan where he could eyewitness devastated buildings and offered up a prayer in a damaged mosque. Several events are being arranged in Saudi Arabia to tell the general public the truth of the realia of Azerbaijan, which realia are covered in mass media exhaustively, according to the Saudi ambassador.

There was also an exchange of opinions about the interparliamentary bonds’ development prospects and other matters at the meeting.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis