Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova who is in the Swiss Confederation on a working visit held a meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Sierra Leone Abbas Chernor Bundu on 23 March on the margins of the 148^th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union taking place in Geneva.

The meeting saw an exchange of views upon the possibilities of promoting inter-parliamentary ties as well as upon also the importance of co-operation within international organisations.

Azerbaijan’s important role in the workings of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Parliamentary Network was underscored as the conversation went on. It was remarked that important steps  had been taken during the Azerbaijani chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement towards the Organisation’s institutional growth. It was further mentioned that the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Youth Organisation of the Non-Aligned Movement had been established at the initiative of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova noted that the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement plays an important role in the development of parliamentary diplomacy, expansion of ties between the legislative bodies of the Member States of the Organisation and manifestations of solidarity to address a number of issues of concern to humanity.  

Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Sierra Leone Abbas Chernor Bundu offered congratulations on the initiatives and efforts to expand the activities of the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement, saying that the Azerbaijani chairmanship had breathed new life into this Organisation and defined new directions in its work. It was said that the issues addressed by the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network concurred with the new challenges; in particular, Azerbaijan's position on the issue of decolonisation was lauded.    

The meeting went on with the emphasis put on the significance of promoting inter-parliamentary relations; it was then stressed that the meetings and dialogues built u in the Inter-Parliamentary Union and other international organisations served to deepen the ties between the legislative assemblies of both countries.

There was then an exchange of opinions about other matters of shared concern as the meeting continued.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis