The plenary session of the 10^th Parliamentary Forum of the BRICS Member States took place in St Petersburg on 11 July. President of the RF Vladimir Putin spoke at the forum about the importance of co-operating on the parliamentary platform and about issues related to co-operation amongst the BRICS States.

Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova described the Parliamentary Forum as an important arena for dialogue and co-operation in her own speech. She said that enhancing the efficiency of the system of international relations was one of the topical highlights of political discourse and that the efficiency of the international system could not be spoken of in earnest without maintaining a strict observance of the universally-accepted principles of international law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries as well as non-interference. Regrettably, failures to observe the international rules, manifestation of double standards and discriminatory approaches as well as the prevalence of certain states’ interests have invariably made the world more fragmented and less peaceful.

Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova told the event participants that Azerbaijan had followed the restoration of her territorial integrity and sovereignty up with large-scale restoration work in the de-occupied territories. The former IDP are returning to the ancestral lands already. Thus, not only did Azerbaijan enforced the international law norms and principles single-handedly, but also restored the justice that our people had searched for over almost 30 years.

According to Speaker Sahiba Gafarova, Azerbaijan and Armenia continue the normalisation process that is bound to bring lasting peace and stability to the South Caucasus. Regrettably, we observe discriminatory approaches, double standards and interference attempts as the true peace option grows increasingly solid. This approach is clearly adopted by France inasmuch as our region is concerned, according to Sahiba Gafarova. She emphasised that this state tried, on various pretexts, to interfere with regional dynamics and turn the South Caucasus into an arena of conflicts and its own reprehensible neo-colonialism experiments. Still, the rigid and resolute stance taken by Azerbaijan apprehends any such attempt.

Speaker of the Milli Majlis said also that ensuring the effectiveness of the international system requires building fair relations based on shared benefits, respect for each other and strengthening true multilateralism. Guided by these principles in her foreign policy, Azerbaijan encourages dialogue, cooperation and solidarity in both bilateral relations and multilateral formats. According to Mrs Gafarova, these principles are also priorities for BRICS. Azerbaijan has already expressed its desire to join BRICS. Strengthening co-operation in this context will serve common goals.

The role of parliaments in international politics – the parliamentary diplomacy – has to date become a substantial instrument, according to Sahiba Gafarova. This alone ensures the democratisation of the system of international relations. Because parliaments represent their peoples, they have alternative and, sometimes, even better opportunities to support the co-operation agenda, build bridges and extinguish conflicts. Mrs Gafarova underlined the transformation of parliamentary organisations such as the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe into playgrounds serving certain groups’ interests, into tools of pressure and application of double standards. Meanwhile, parliamentary organisations ought to promote genuine dialogue and co-operation.

Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova then informed the participants of the gathering of the 29^th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) that is to be held in Baku in November this year. According to Mrs Speaker, the planned hosting of this prestigious international event by our country speaks of the recognition of Azerbaijan's efforts in the fight against climate change, not only at the national level, but also on regional and global scales.

Then, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis said that advancing climate action and achieving our goals required universal engagement. It is only through constructive co-operation, extensive commitments and a joint action that we can realise our shared vision of a sustainable and prosperous future for all. Speaker Sahiba Gafarova made a point of saying that the choice of Azerbaijan as the COP29 host also demonstrated a confidence in her potential to rally communities and countries to a common goal. Our country will spare no efforts to mobilise the global endeavour to tackle climate change.

Calling on the parliamentarians to search climatic crisis solutions actively, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis also told them about the Parliamentary Meeting that the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan is going to hold on the COP29 margins in conjunction with the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Mrs Gafarova said that this meeting would provide a fine opportunity for parliamentarians to exchange views and find solutions to combat climate change, as well as make a parliamentary contribution to the implementation of multilateral activities in this field. Sahiba Gafarova invited the session participants to take part in the Parliamentary Meeting.

It should be mentioned that the event in St Petersburg was opened by Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko. She greeted the event participants and shared her thoughts about the importance of the conference and the relevance of its topicality.

President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Tulia Ackson who, too, spoke at the plenary session expressed satisfaction with the co-operation between Azerbaijan and the organisation she is heading. She lauded the successful Azerbaijani chairmanship of the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The BRICS Parliaments’ Presidents spoke at the event as well.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis