Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova received President of the 78^th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Dennis Francis on 16 March.

The successful co-operation of our country with the UN and its specialised units as well as Azerbaijan's contribution to the achievement of the UN Charter goals regarding ensuring international peace, security and development were discussed during the meeting

The Speaker of the Milli Majlis lauded the considerable input of the UN General Assembly and its President in the strengthening of the Organisation’s role in part concerning multilateralism, promotion of the international law and fostering inter-state co-operation. She underscored the importance of joint efforts across the 4 priorities proclaimed by the General Assembly President, namely, peace, progress, prosperity and stability. The need to respect universal norms and principles of international law, in particular those in regard to territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, In pursuit of these objectives was emphasised as the conversation went on.

As she was updating the guest on the current situation in the region, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova told about the large-scale work that Azerbaijan has been doing since the liberation of her territories from Armenian occupation and about also the hazards posed by the mines planted by Armenia. Mrs Gafarova also emphasised the necessity of international co-operation and support in those areas. According to the Speaker of the Milli Majlis, it was Azerbaijan that had proposed the peace initiative and pursued the peace agenda. Then, Mrs Gafarova expressed a hope that a peace treaty was going to be signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia soon.

Touching then upon the work to be done within the framework of the 29^th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Climate Change (COP29) scheduled for this year in Baku, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova spoke of the efforts that the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan is making to ensure a parliamentary contribution to the discussions about on addressing such global challenges as the climate change.

Also, the Speaker of Milli Majlis talked about the steps taken by our country towards the strengthening of parliamentary diplomacy, including the activities of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network established on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

President of the 78^th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Dennis Francis who is in Azerbaijan for the Global Baku Forum arranged by the Nizami Ganjavi International Forum witnessed his appreciation of Azerbaijan’s activities in the UN and the Organisation’s specialised divisions as well as the efforts that our country is making. Azerbaijan demonstrates the unwavering fidelity to the main values and principles of the UN, the guest stressed before pointing up Azerbaijan’s role in the promotion of multilateralism.

The General Assembly President indicated the readiness to continue the co-operation with the people and Government of Azerbaijan; he also underscored the importance of parliaments’ role in supporting the UN goals.

Dennis Francis offered his congratulations on the occasion of the COP29 due to be hosted by Azerbaijan, saying he was convinced that our country was going to host that event to the highest standards possible.

As he was praising Azerbaijan’s efforts to achieve peace and tranquillity in the region, Dennis Francis pointed out that providing a stable regional peace is key for sustainable development and prosperity as well as that the UN was behind those initiatives.

The guest broached the successful initiatives that Azerbaijan had fielded whilst chairing the Non-Aligned Movement; he described the emergence of the Movement’s Youth Organisation and Parliamentary Network as well as the work done on forming the NAM Women Platform as the steps that matter for the promotion and advancement of multilateralism in the world.

The guest was informed of the structure and workings of the Milli Majlis as the conversation progressed. Also, there was an exchange of opinions about other matters of shared interest.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis