Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova has had a meeting with President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović during her official visit to that country.

As she was giving to the Montenegrin Head of State the regards of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova also handed to him the letter of invitation to the COP29 due to take place in our country.

President Jakov Milatović stressed that Azerbaijan is a friendly state to Montenegro before talking about the progress of the relations between our countries. Mr Milatović added that Azerbaijan is one of the top investors in Montenegro; specifically, he voiced satisfaction with the high standards of co-operation in tourism.

Congratulating Azerbaijan on the forthcoming hosting of the 29^th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Climate Change – COP29, President Jakov Milatović recalled with pleasure his meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the COP28 in Dubai.

In addition, the President of Montenegro conveyed congratulations on the victory of the Head of State Ilham Aliyev in the presidential election held in our country this year. It was said that members of the Montenegrin Parliament, too, had been monitoring the ballot.

Montenegro is a friendly state and partner to Azerbaijan, according to Mr Milatović who proceeded to mention the 15^th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations last year and stressing fruitful co-operation built up in several areas in that period.

They then underscored the significance of a continued expansion of the mutual legal and instrument framework, and of signing new agreements. It was said that enhanced of the Economic Co-operation Commission would ensure further broadening of the ties in that area. Besides, the necessity of strengthening humanitarian connexions and contacts amongst people was highlighted as the conversation went on.

They also talked about the importance of inter-parliamentary co-operation in the development of the relations between our countries. The gravitas of mutual support of our countries within the framework of international organisations, including inter-parliamentary institutions, at the time of double standards demonstrable in the world was stressed as well.

Sahiba Gafarova broached the subject of the refusal to affirm the mandate of the Milli Majlis Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in January this year. She mentioned Montenegro having abstained from the vote on that matter before criticising the partial resolutions of the European Parliament concerning our country.

As she was also deploring the biased campaigns and pressure put on Azerbaijan by certain other international organisations, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis said that Azerbaijan was well on her way. She then told about the delimitation process between the two countries and said she hoped that a peace agreement was going to be signed shortly. What else was said was that Armenia had agreed to give to Azerbaijan 4 previously captured villages consequent to the negotiations held to that effect.

 Going further, Sahiba Gafarova talked about the steps France has taken to escalate tensions in our region. This state demonstrates a calculated approach intended to ignite a new conflict, according to Mrs Gafarova.

The Speaker of the Milli Majlis also commented on the prospects of opening transport lines in the region. Restoration of transport and communications would be beneficial to the whole region, in her opinion. Large-scale restoration and building work goes on in Garabagh and East Zangazur currently; new towns and villages are being built in those territories. In addition, Sahiba Gafarova addressed Azerbaijan’s role as a dependable energy supplier and a contributor to the European energy security.

The President of Montenegro said he hoped a peace agreement would be signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia; it would serve the cause of the region’s development, he added.

Also, there was an exchange of opinions about other topics of shared interest.

When the conversation was over, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis presented the President of Montenegro with the book ‘Garabagh Before and After the Occupation’.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis