The opening ceremony of the First Uzbek-Azerbaijani Inter-Parliamentary Forum took place in the town of Khiva in Uzbekistan on 1 July. The leaders and members of the legislative assemblies of both nations attended the event. In her speech at the forum, Speaker of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova underscored the event’s profound significance for the parliaments of both countries. She said that this forum marks the first such initiative undertaken by the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan in conjunction with the legislative body of any other nation. This fact not only reflects the high level of co-operation between our parliaments but, above all, demonstrates the fraternal bonds between our nations and peoples vividly.

In her address, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova recalled fondly her visits to Uzbekistan, both on a bilateral basis and in the format of various international events. She highlit the achievements that Uzbekistan had made under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in economic, social and other domains.

Referring to the deep ties between the Azerbaijani and Uzbek peoples which are rooted in the shared historical origins as well as national, spiritual, and cultural values, Speaker of the Milli Majlis remarked that our peoples have lived in peace and have treated each other as brothers for centuries. She then emphasised that the relations between our countries were built upon this robust foundation and have developed rapidly following the attainment of independence.

As she pointed up the tremendous contributions of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev to the deepening of the relations between our peoples and countries, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova said that the Heydar Aliyev Square, inaugurated in Toshkent during President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Uzbekistan in 2022, serves not only as a recognition of the National Leader’s accomplishments but also as a testament to the Uzbek people’s respect for his legacy. She stressed that the Azerbaijani people greatly value this gesture.

Having mentioned the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova added that our nations have developed as strong and independent states in all respects, while the ties between our countries have further deepened under the wise leadership of Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev. She pointed out that the two Heads of State are harnessing the robust political and economic potentials purposefully in order to foster the joint development and future prosperity of our peoples, countries and the region as a whole. Speaker Sahiba Gafarova proceeded to say that the bilateral relations have reached a new level qualitatively, and brought up the signing of the Treaty on Allied Relations during President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Uzbekistan in August 2024 – that established Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan as allies formally. Then, she made a reference to President Ilham Aliyev’s view that Central Asia, the South Caucasus and the Caspian Sea are evolving into a unified geopolitical region, with the favourable regional developments becoming increasingly dependent collaboration on effective co-operation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. As she then added, the Azerbaijani Parliament ratified the alliance treaty unanimously in October last year.

Continuing her address, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova described the trustful personal bonds between the Presidents of the two countries and their regular contacts and reciprocal visits as one of the key factors behind the expansion of the links between our states. In her opinion, our countries’ positions on regional and international issues are akin, which is demonstrable in our unwavering mutual support in international entities.

Underlining another crucial aspect of the Azerbaijani-Uzbek relations, namely, Uzbekistan’s unchanging and firm standpoint on Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, Sahiba Gafarova observed that the people of Azerbaijan have always sensed the brotherly support of the people of Uzbekistan, be it during the years of our territories’ Armenian occupation or during Garabagh War II and after it. She said then that a school named in honour of the Uzbek people’s outstanding son Mirza Ulughbek had been built in the de-occupied town of Fuzuli upon the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, which made Uzbekistan the first country to contribute to the restoration of the liberated territories. The Speaker described that school as well as the light-industry enterprise established in the liberated town of Khankendi as symbols of our nations’ fraternity and amity.

As she then broached the interaction between the two legislatures as one of the factors of important benevolent influence upon the bilateral and multilateral links between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova said that our inter-parliamentary co-operation was taking on special importance and nature in view of all the aforesaid. This co-operation signals the preparedness of our parliaments to make inputs of their own in the advancement of the inter-state relations. Whilst mentioning the numerous reciprocal visits of Speakers of Parliament, meetings of MPs as well as of the Friendship Groups and various delegations over the past years as exemplars of the effective collaboration between our legislative bodies, Sahiba Gafarova remarked that the signing of the Co-operation Agreement between the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as the implementation of roadmaps and the unfailing mutual backing in international parliamentary entities spoke of the high level of our relationship. She stressed in this connexion that the current forum embodies the shared intent to deepen our co-operation and to apply combined forces for the good of our peoples and countries.

The Speaker of the Milli Majlis said she was confident that this forum would go on to become an effective co-operation mechanism and that the forthcoming discussions would contribute across the board to the strengthening of our inter-parliamentary links.

Speaking at the event, too, Speaker of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbayeva greeted the delegation of the Parliament of Azerbaijan before telling the assembly that the current forum was not merely an inter-parliamentary meeting but a milestone in the development history of our relations. She mentioned the fact that the event was taking place on the eve of the 30^th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, which only accentuates its significance once more. According to Tanzila Narbayeva, the forum being held on these days reflects our shared commitment to parliamentary values and a desire to strengthen inter-parliamentary co-operation as one of the key factors of the friendship of our countries. She expressed a confidence that the inter-parliamentary forum would become the main platform of sincere and constructive opinion exchanges, elaboration of joint initiatives and implementation of joint programmes.

As she was sharing her thoughts about the currently high standards set by the relations between our countries, Speaker of the Senate Tanzila Narbayeva stressed that the relations between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan have always built up on the common historical, cultural and spiritual values. Those links are further bolstered by the friendship of our peoples as well as their mutual respect and sense of fraternity. She mentioned the decisive significance of the efforts and personal contributions by the leaders of the two countries in the achievement of the high level of our relationship. As was underlined further, it is the far-sightedness and principal stances of our Heads of State that have made sure that the relations of our countries have evolved to alliance and strategic partnership, and that those relations have progressed in every area covered.

Continuing her address, the Speaker of the Senate touched upon the topic of the existing links between our parliaments and said that the interaction of our legislative assemblies promoted a continued expansion of the links between our countries and peoples. All at the same time, those relations play an important role in strengthening our countries’ positions in major international organisations.

The addresses of the Speakers of Parliament were followed by the work of the First Uzbek-Azerbaijani Inter-Parliamentary Forum that went as session-specific deliberations.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis