Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova has received the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia in our country Edgars Skuja. Stressing during the conversation that Azerbaijan and Latvia are friendly and partnerly states, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova also referred to the rich history of our bilateral relations. It was said then that the summit and high-level contacts and visits promoted the expansion of the co-operation between the two countries.

The 30^th anniversary of the Azerbaijani-Latvian diplomatic relations is this year. The bilateral relations have been progressing comprehensively throughout the past period. Besides, there are sound opportunities to make the economic, trade, investment and humanitarian connexions deeper, it was said.

The conversation progressed to the prospects of a continued evolution of the inter-parliamentary relations. The Speaker of the Milli Majlis remarked on the significant role of the inter-parliamentary co-operation in the development of the bilateral relations and recalled fondly her official visit to Latvia. She also touched upon the work done by the friendship groups. The necessity of strengthening the co-operation, be it bilateral or upon international and regional parliamentary platforms, was underscored in the context of parliamentary diplomacy’s importance. Sahiba Gafarova then broached the double standards that exist in certain international organisations and are applied to Azerbaijan. She criticised in this relation the refusal to ratify the credentials of the Azerbaijani Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, saying that the PACE should drop this quite wrong approach.

The current situation in the region was talked over then. The Speaker of the Milli Majlis deplored the pressure that Azerbaijan has been facing since the liberation of her lands. Certain countries and international entities are trying to apply pressure to our country with reliance upon the false and fabricated data that Armenia presents them with, according to Sahiba Gafarova.

The Speaker talked about the need to maintain constant peace between the parties, adding that peace was essential for the maintenance of lasting stability in the South Caucasus.

Edgars Skuja thanked for the generous hospitality extended to him before saying that he was deeply impressed by the development processes apace in our country. Besides, the diplomatist congratulated the Azerbaijani side on our country’s election to host the COP29 – the 29^th session of the Parties to the UN Convention on Climate Change.

Latvia is always supportive of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and attaches special importance to its strategic partnership links with our country, according to Edgars Skuja. He said also that the bilateral economic ties including the interaction between the two countries’ business communities had been growing wider of late.

There was also an exchange of opinions about other matters of shared interest as the meeting continued.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis