Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova met with Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) Salim bin Muhammad al-Malik on the margins of the 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva in the Swiss Confederation.

The intensive advancement of the co-operation between Azerbaijan and the Organisation, and the existence of a constant dialogue between them were mentioned with satisfaction during the meeting.

Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova recalled with pleasure her meeting with the ICESCO Secretary General in the course of her official visit to Morocco in December last year. She said that our country attaches a great importance to co-operating with the Organisation as well as with the Islamic countries. Azerbaijan  is an active member of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) family. Our country collaborates with the OIC Member States, bilaterally as well as in international organisations, and always endeavours to solidify the solidarity of our countries.

The Speaker said also that Azerbaijan highly appreciates the co-operation with ICESCO and attached a special significance to it.

Further, the importance of the conference of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network and of the discussions held was underscored. It was said that the NAMPN observer status afforded to ICESCO was bound to contribute to the progress of the two parties’ co-operation.

Salim bin Muhammad al-Malik voiced the interest of ICESCO in expanding the collaboration with Azerbaijan further. He fondly remembered the conversations  he had had with the leadership of our country during his visits to Azerbaijan in the past years, adding that the already-signed Plan of Activities was going to deepen the co-operation between ICESCO and Azerbaijan more.

The Director General lauded the endeavours of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the Islamic World’s educational, academic and cultural facets.

Also, Mr al-Malik congratulated Azerbaijan on having won the right to host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-29) and on Shusha’s declaration the Cultural Capital of  the Islamic World in 2024.

The meeting also saw an exchange of opinions about other matters of interest to Azerbaijan and this international organisation alike.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis