Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova met with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alim Bayel to our country on 18 January.

It was said during the meeting that the friendship and brotherly ties between our nations had a rich history and that our interrelationships develop successfully with reliance upon the shared values and the common history, religion and language. Speaker Sahiba Gafarova said that both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan as independent states rested on the rich statehood traditions and continued their progress accordingly today.

According to the Speaker of the Milli Majlis, the ties between the two Heads of State are central to the progress of the relations. Then, she underlined the contribution to the continued expansion of the co-operation coming from reciprocal visits, meetings and documents signed between the two sides to date. It was also said that both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan co-operated fruitfully in international organisations including the Organisation of Turkic States.

Recalling her official visit to Kazakhstan, Sahiba Gafarova expressed satisfaction with the meetings held during it as well as with the degree of advancement of the linkage between our legislatures. The Speaker also touched with pleasure upon the visit of the Chairman of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Yerlan Qoşanov to Baku last year for the special session of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan held in honour of the 100^th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev. Today, the esteemed President Ilham Aliyev continues the policy established by the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev – and follows his immortal ideas, according to Mrs Gafarova. She then mentioned Azerbaijan’s progress in accordance with such a political course.

Parliamentarians represent their peoples; therefore, a continued deepening of the ties between the legislative assemblies provides for an on-going intensification of the relations between our countries and peoples, according to Mrs Gafarova who brought up the high level of interaction between the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan and both the Mazhilis and the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The two sides co-operate bilaterally as well as in international organisations. The fruitful endeavours of the two friendship groups were mentioned in this connection.

The Speaker of the Milli Majlis then turned to Azerbaijan’s having de-occupied her territories and the restoration of our sovereignty. She said with regret that there are double standards in the world and that certain countries that are unable to digest the achievements of Azerbaijan take unfair and biased stances when it comes to our country. We can see this clearly in the attitude of France to Azerbaijan established of late. Mrs Gafarova referred to the latest resolution of the Senate of France, passed a few days ago, as a vivid manifestation of hypocrisy, adding that Frances demonstrates open contempt for the international law standards and principles by taking such steps.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan Alim Bayel, too, voiced satisfaction with the dynamic advancement of the relations between our countries and mentioned the contribution this process receives from the productive work and mutual visits of the Heads of State. Mr Bayel said that in his role of ambassador he had every intention not to spare a single effort for the sake of a continued growth of our relationship.

Our countries’ joint projects, the progress of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, the installation of a fibre optic communication line across the Caspian seabed and the shipping of crude oil from Kazakhstan across Azerbaijan were discussed at the meeting as well.

It was said that Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are furthering humanitarian co-operation, too. It was further stressed that the relevant undertakings bring our nations yet closer together. Also, they mentioned the Kazakhstan Culture Days held in Azerbaijan last year.

There was then an exchange of opinions about other matters of shared interest during the conversation.

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Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova also met with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to our country Ilhom Abdurahmon on 18 January. Sahiba Gafarova stressed the fraternal and friendly nature of the relations between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan before broaching the work in process to ensure a continued expansion of our political, economic, trading, transport, logistical and other co-operation. The immense importance of the reciprocal visits and meetings of the Heads of State and of the documents signed for the progress of our relations was underscored, too. In this respect, Mrs Gafarova spoke about the co-operation between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan in international organisations.

They talked about the successful advance of the high-level bilateral relations in the parliamentary dimension as well. The Speaker of the Milli Majlis recalled her visit to Tajikistan and the visits to Azerbaijan of Chairman of the Majlisi milli of the Majlisi Oli of Tajikistan Rustam Emomali and of Chairman of the Chamber of Representatives of the Majlis Oli Mahmadtoir Zokirzoda. She remembered with pleasure the meetings held during those visits and mentioned the signing of the Co-operation Agreement between the Majlisi milli of the Majlisi Oli and the Milli Majlis. That, Sahiba Gafarova pointed out, had laid a foundation for yet greater expansion of our co-operation. She proceeded to point up as important interaction between the two sides’ parliamentary committees on top of the work done by the friendship groups, all in the context of a continued progress of the bilateral ties in general. The Speaker said that our legislatures had successful co-operation afoot in inter-parliamentary organisations as well.

The Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to our country Ilhom Abdurahmon said that his country attached a great importance to advancing the relations with the friendly Azerbaijan and valued them highly. Reciprocal visits paid on various levels play a big role in the progress of the bilateral relations, according to Mr Abdurahmon.

The meeting continued with an exchange of views upon other matters of mutual interest.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis