The 3rd Conference of the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement took place in Geneva in the Swiss Confederation. The event that went under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the Milli Majlis and Head of the Parliamentary Network Sahiba Gafarova was participated by 53 delegations from the Member States’ national legislatures and from international organisations.

Opening the conference, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova in her foreword greeted the participants and expressed her belief that the event was going to contribute dramatically to the continued evolution of the Network and development of co-operation amongst the Member States.

The number of participants of the Network conferences has been growing steadily since its constituent conference in Madrid in November 2021, according to Sahiba Gafarova who remarked that the Network continues growing and adding new members to its ranks. Right now, the Parliamentary Network represents more  than a half of the Non-Aligned Movement national legislative assemblies. Not only does this demonstrate a commitment to the cause of promoting the values and principles of the Non-Aligned Movement, but it is also a token of the intention to strengthen further the solidarity and co-operation amongst our parliaments.

Mentioning the hand-over of the Non-Aligned Movement chairmanship from the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Uganda at the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement Heads of State and Government in the Ugandan capital city of Kampala in January this year, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova said that our country’s presidency would be remembered for the commitment to strengthening the unity and multi-faceted co—operation amongst the Movement’s Member States that was demonstrated by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. Several initiatives proposed by President Ilham Aliyev, such as those regarding establishing the Non-Aligned Movement’s Parliamentary Network and Youth Organisation, as well as the first steps taken towards instituting the Non-Aligned Movement Women’s Platform, are remarkably important for the Movement’s institutional growth.

Continuing, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova said that the Parliamentary Network had been co-ordinating its activities from the very day of inception with decisions of executive authorities and reflecting them in its work and final documents. Such close co-operation with the Member States’ governments has provided for parliamentary contribution to the promotion of the Non-Aligned Movement’s ideals and values. Mrs Gafarova recalled that the amendments and addenda passed to the Charter of the Network at the 2nd Parliamentary Network Conference in Manama in Bahrain in March 2023 were intended to streamline and perfect its operational modes. Further work will be done on the institutional advancement of the Network. According to the Speaker, the emergence of the Bureau and the Permanent Committees of the Parliamentary Network will add to its institutional potential and make its workings more effective yet.

As she was informing the conference participants of the work being done on bolstering institutional dialogue with other inter-parliamentary entities, Sahiba Gafarova mentioned the granting of the observer status to four international entities in Manama. Also, after the Manama Conference, the Parliamentary Network itself was made an observer with the TurkPA and the Parliamentary Assembly of Black Sea Economic Co-operation. Furthermore, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the International Conference of Asian Political Parties. Two days earlier, then, a Memorandum of Understanding was inked with the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the world’s oldest and largest inter-parliamentary organisation.

Having reminded the assembly that today’s conference was dedicated to the topic of enlivening parliamentary activities in the  struggle with climate change, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova said that climate change was now one of the paramount and urgent challenges demanding attention. At the same time, this is the kind of challenge that necessitates a global response and joint endeavours. As the Speaker of the Milli Majlis emphasised, Azerbaijan had been unanimously elected to host the COP-29. The said event is due to take place in Baku in November this year. We are proud of it. This is a vivid token of the recognition of Azerbaijan’s climate change efforts and not only nationally but also on the regional and global levels. The year 2024 is being the Year of Solidarity for the Green World in our country. Azerbaijan now has a very earnest agenda of transition to green energy; considerable investments are channelled in generation and exportation of renewable energy in our country.

Besides, the Speaker pointed up the fact that the role of Azerbaijan as the COP-29 host provided an important opportunity to engage our international partners in fostering the climate activities for the good of the Planet. In this sense, inclusive dialogue, constructive co-operation and joint activities constitute a key factor in obtaining progress in this area. Doubtless, it is important for the achieving of our goals that all the members of the international community should join the process. It is following the initiative of the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, His Excellency Mr Martin Chungong, that the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan together with the Inter-Parliamentary Union plans to organise a Parliamentary Meeting on the sidelines of the COP-29. This move will supply parliamentarians with the opportunity of a broad exchange of views and choice of what steps they could take to combat climate change. Therefore, the Meeting will ensure a parliamentary contribution to the climate change action.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova reiterated in conclusion of her speech that the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network will continue demonstrating firm commitment to the promotion of inter-parliamentary co-operation and dialogue amongst our parliaments and countries.

The conference then went on with the other participants taking the floor.

The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Tulia Ackson, the Secretary General of the Organisation Martin Chungong, the President of the People’s National Assembly of Algeria Ibrahim Boughali, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Maldives Mohamed Aslam, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Nepal Dev Raj Ghimire, the Chairwoman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbayeva, the President of the National Assembly of Gabon Jean-Francoise Ndongou, the Chairman of the Arab Parliament Adel bin Abdul Rahman Al-Asoomi, the Director  General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) Salim bin Muhammad al-Malik, the official of the Baku Initiative Group Jean-Jacob Bicep and the parliamentarians of other countries offered their congratulations on the high organisational standards to which the event adhered. The speakers said that, though the Parliamentary Network established upon the instance of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was a young organisation, it has carried out successful work on its own institutional growth. The speakers highly praised those endeavours.

Then, the conference attended to organisational matters and took decisions about forming the Bureau and the Permanent Committees of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network as well as about granting the NAMPN observer status to international organisations.

The event was concluded with the adoption of the Geneva Declaration summarising its outcomes.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis