Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova has had a meeting with Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations Patricia Scotland.

They discussed issues related to co-operation between Azerbaijan and the Commonwealth, the COP29 taking place in our capital city and the global initiatives that our country had put forth as part of her COP29 presidency.

Recalling fondly her previous meetings with Patricia Scotland, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova remarked that the Secretary General’s first visit to our country in her current capacity in May this year had made it possible to initiate institutional co-operation between Azerbaijan and the Commonwealth countries. It was further said that the practical aspects of the co-operation incorporated political and financial support to the Small Island Developing States via the Commonwealth.

As was stressed during the conversation, those issues that are related to climate change constitute one of the tremendous co-operation areas. The Small Island States are sensitive to climate change the most and encounter its worst consequences not barring existential threats. They mentioned the Summit of the Leaders of the Small Island Development States held in the format of the COP29 and dedicated to climate change. President Ilham Aliyev had taken part in the Summit delivering a substantial speech broaching the current challenges stemming from climate change and affecting Small Island Developing States as well as underscoring the practical steps Azerbaijan was taking to support such states. The Summit serves to raise those states’ voices so that they are heard.

Besides, Sahiba Gafarova told her guest about the Parliamentary Meeting organised by the Milli Majlis together with the Inter-Parliamentary Union and scheduled to be held on the COP29 sidelines on 16-17 November. It was said that about 300 delegates from various national parliaments and international organisations would be joining the Meeting.

Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations Patricia Scotland congratulated our country with the assumption of the COP29 chairmanship and wished her success in her work during the presidency term. She also praised Azerbaijan’s support extended to Small Island States.

The meeting also saw an exchange of views upon matters of shared interest.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis