Speaker of the Milli Majlis and Head of Azerbaijan’s Delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Sahiba Gafarova delivered a speech at the 148 Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union ‘Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building Bridges for Peace and Understanding’ in Geneva in the Swiss Confederation.

Greeting the event participants, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis wished the 148 Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union success. Stressing then the importance of the choice of the matter of peace, security and mutual understanding as the target of strategic policy and the discussion subject of the Organisation for 2024, she remarked that the issue of peace and understanding had taken on great significance and become a decisive factor. Our hopes for a better world are closely linked to peace and understanding.

Regretfully, today, the world has become more fractured and less peaceful. Many argue about the ineffectiveness of multilateral mechanisms, which is the result of non-compliance with international rules, double standards and predominance of interests of certain states.

Several days ago, these issues were extensively dealt with in the framework of the 11^th Global Baku Forum themed ‘Fixing the Fractured World’, organised by the Nizami Ganjavi International Centre and attended by more than 400 distinguished guests from 68 countries, the Speaker continued.

There is a universal consensus about the need for a stronger, more effective and inclusive multilateral system, with the United Nations at its core. Sahiba Gafarova added that strict adherence to and non-selective application of the universally recognised norms and principles of international law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, protection of justice should stand at the basis of this system. This is a precondition for restoring and maintaining peace and understanding that we all aim for.

Addressing the growing significance of parliamentary diplomacy then, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis shared an opinion about parliaments’ roles in achieving peace and understanding. She remarked that parliamentary diplomacy had evolved into an important factor in inter-country relations in the context of the existing international problems with the preservation of multilateralism and international co-operation being as essential for solving global problems as never before. Of course, Sahiba Gafarova continued, it would be overly optimistic to consider parliaments alone as a remedy against the challenges to peace and security, which need to be looked at from wider perspective. But taking into consideration the notion of centrality of dialogue for peace, parliaments become an effective additional resource of building bridges for peace and understanding. Being representatives of the people, parliaments can make an important contribution to the issues such as building confidence, trust and peaceful coexistence.

 Going on in this context, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis lauded the role of the IPU Leadership and, in particular, that of Secretary General Martin Chungong in providing a platform for the first meeting of the Presidents of Parliament of Azerbaijan and Armenia. Sahiba Gafarova commented on this by saying that the two countries are closer to peace than they have ever been. Such meetings of the two countries’ parliaments will become a useful means of conducting constructive discussions.

Sahiba Gafarova accentuated the fact that, unlike certain other inter-parliamentary organisations eschewing their own declared missions, the IPU stays true to the dialogue vision and plays a remarkable role in bridging over to contacts between the parties.

Peace and understanding are the primal and most crucial pre-condition for solution of the global problems we are facing now, according to Sahiba Gafarova who stressed that without peace and understanding, it is difficult to ensure solidarity and sincere dialogue necessary to deal jointly with the challenges that require global and urgent responses. One of the most serious challenges that demand collective efforts is that of climate change. To put in other words, our steps today will determine the fate of our future generations, said the Speaker of the Milli Majlis.

Sahiba Gafarova proceeded to describe the election of our country to host the twenty-ninth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change in November this year in Baku as a sign of recognition of Azerbaijan’s efforts in addressing climate change not only at national, but also at regional and global scale. We are honoured and understand the great responsibility that comes with it. Azerbaijan, as a bridge-builder and having the potential to unite communities and countries behind a common cause, is ready to help guide the international community to realise a future that is climate-focused, equitable and sustainable.

Engagement of all parties is important in order to advance climate action and achieve our goals. It is only with constructive collaboration, increased commitments and collective action we will be able to deliver our shared vision of a sustainable and prosperous future for all, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova remarked then.

Climate change has been identified by the IPU as one of the four priority areas that require urgent intervention, Sahiba Gafarova mentioned, saying that the IPU had negotiated a great path of supporting parliaments in their efforts to combat climate change and of mobilising them around the climate action.

Give the centrality of this issue to the IPU’s activities and upon the initiative of the Union’s Secretary General Martin Chungong, the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan together with the IPU, plans to organise the Parliamentary Meeting within the frameworks of the COP29.

This meeting will afford parliamentarians the opportunity to exchange their views and identify what they can offer in the fight against climate change, according to Sahiba Gafarova.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis