Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova met on 25 June with First Deputy Speaker of the Council of Representatives of the Republic of Iraq Adnan Faihan Ad-Dulaimi who visited Baku to participate in the 20^th Session of the Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Member States.

Sahiba Gafarova remarked that the relations between Azerbaijan and Iraq were based on the religious and cultural values shared by our peoples. She said that Azerbaijan and Iraq always demonstrate mutual support in the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

It was noted during the meeting that there are sound co-operation opportunities between our countries in energy, investments, tourism and other areas.

The significance of our legislative bodies’ co-operation – bilateral and in international organisations – was underlined at the meeting. It was said that the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network established at the initiative of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is an essential platform in this context. The importance of mutual support upon such international platforms as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the PUIC was underlined as well.

First Deputy Speaker of the Council of Representatives of Iraq Adnan Faihan Ad-Dulaimi offered congratulations on the successful hosting in Baku of the 20^th Session of the Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Member States and on the transition of the PUIC chairmanship to Azerbaijan. He brought up the significance of the co-operation in the frameworks of this organisation. He also indicated his country’s interest in continuing strengthening the relations with Azerbaijan and emphasised especially the role that the Parliaments play in this regard.

The guest said that the topics discussed at the Session help to address issues that are of concern to the Islamic world at the present time and that the event contributes to the strengthening of the co-operation amongst the Organisation’s Member States.

There was also an exchange of opinions about other matters of shared interest at the meeting.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis