Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova has had a meeting with Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia Puan Maharani who is on a working visit to our country to participate in the 15^th plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA).

During the meeting, the APA was described as an important parliamentary platform uniting the legislatures of Asia. It was emphasised that a number of key issues would be discussed during the 15^th plenary session in Baku. The significance of such events in terms of fostering dialogue about, and expanding bilateral relations was also highlighted.

As she recalled fondly her previous meetings with Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova stressed that such meetings and reciprocal visits contribute to the development of bilateral relations.

Furthermore, the productive cooperation and mutual support between our countries within major international organisations such as the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement were emphasised as the conversation went on. Speaker Sahiba Gafarova said that Indonesia is represented in the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement, which had been established on the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and actively participated in its events. The Speakers also discussed the tasks facing the Parliamentary Network under Azerbaijan’s chairmanship and the steps being taken towards the organisation’s institutional development.

It was said then that the inter-parliamentary co-operation had a significant favourable influence on the progress of the relations between our countries. The legislative assemblies of our states interact under the aegis of such international organisations as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the OIC PA and the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (the APA). The work being done by the friendship groups in both countries’ legislatures as well as reciprocal visits and close contacts of MPs promote a continued expansion of the bilateral relations.

Speaker of the House of Representatives of Indonesia Puan Maharani expressed pleasure with her visit to Azerbaijan and her confidence that the plenary session would be a success. She further said that keeping peace and ensuring security were of extremely intense importance what with the backdrop of the existing global crises, and underscored the commitment of Azerbaijan and Indonesia to peace values.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova informed the guest of the current state of affairs in the region and of the large-scale restoration and re-construction work afoot in Garabagh and East Zangazur following our territories’ de-occupation.

There was also an exchange of opinions about gender equality issues, enhancing women’s representation in governance and other matters of shared interest at the meeting.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis