On 21 February, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova had a meeting with Chairman of the Assembly of Representatives of the Supreme Assembly of Tajikistan Mahmadtoir Zokirzoda who had arrived in our country to take part in the 14^th Plenary Session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly held in Baku.

As she greeted the guest, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova noted the dynamic development of the ties between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan in various areas. She said that mutual visits of the Heads of State and the meetings held played an important role in deepening the relations between our countries and peoples.

Then, the importance of inter-parliamentary ties in strengthening inter-state relations was emphasised and the importance of co-operation within the framework of the friendship groups operating in the legislatures of both countries was stressed as the meeting went on.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova praised Tajik MPs’ engagement in the monitoring of the extraordinary presidential election of 7 February – the election that had for the first time taken place all over the territory of Azerbaijan including the territories delivered from Armenian occupation.

The conversation continued: Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova spoke about Azerbaijan having liberated her territories from the Armenian occupation at the 44-day Patriotic War and having wholly restored her sovereignty and territorial integrity as a result of the successful anti-terrorist measures of the local nature that had been undertaken in September last year. The Speaker remarked that the large-scale construction work was in process in the de-occupied territories and that the IDP were returning to their homeland.

Chairman of the Assembly of Representatives of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan Mahmadtoir Zokirzoda thanked for the warm welcome before saying that Tajikistan was interested in furthering the progress of its relations with Azerbaijan. Also, Mahmadtoir Zokirzoda passed on his congratulations on the occasion of the extraordinary presidential election.

The guest talked about the potential extensive opportunities of our countries to broaden their political, economic and humanitarian co-operation. In addition, Mr Zokirzoda underscored the necessity of bolstering the inter-parliamentary co-operation and putting on reciprocal visits of parliamentary delegations for experience and information exchanges.

The Chairman of the Assembly of Representatives expressed his high appreciation of the Azerbaijani hosting of the 14^th Plenary Session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly before broaching mutually beneficial co-operation within this Organisation.

Furthermore, Mahmadtoir Zokirzoda said that Azerbaijan having restored her territorial integrity at the 44 days’ Patriotic War had been a tremendous highlight.

There was also an exchange of opinions concerning other issues of common interest.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis