Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova has met with President of the Pan-African Parliament Fatih Boutbig as part of the visit to the Republic of South Africa.

An extensive exchange of opinions was made at the meeting as to the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and African countries, the development prospects of the inter-parliamentary co-operation and matters of shared interest.

President of the Pan-African Parliament Fatih Boutbig praised highly the address by Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova at the opening ceremony of the Conference of National and Regional Parliaments. He stressed the intense significance of the thoughts of solidarity, friendship and inter-parliamentary co-operation that had been voiced in the speech. He also emphasised the considerable role that parliaments play in the implementation of the Pan-African Union’s Agenda 2063.

The President of the Pan-African Parliament remarked that Azerbaijan is a reliable partner to African countries; the sides are united by shared values and the relations based on mutual respect. He underscored the important role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening ties amongst peoples and in furthering mutual interests.

Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova said that Azerbaijan attaches special significance to developing the relations with African countries.

The Speaker pointed out the importance of broadening inter-parliamentary connections, strengthening political dialogue, enhancing shared trust and advancing co-operation along new vectors.

She said that it is important to continue the joint activities on the regional and international levels. Sahiba Gafarova emphasised that a continued expansion of the inter-parliamentary links will serve the joint interests, and pointed up the presence of sound opportunities to expand institutional co-operation with the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova invited the Pan-African Parliament leadership to visit Azerbaijan and said she was certain that such a visit would contribute importantly to the advancement of mutual relations and expansion of practical co-operation.

The meeting saw an exchange of views upon the development prospects of the co-operation between the Milli Majlis and the Pan-African Parliament, and the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Pan-African Parliament. They also discussed interaction within international parliamentary organisations and other matters of shared concern.

Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova also met with First Vice President of the National Assembly of Djibouti, honorary Vice President of the Pan-African Parliament Safia Elmi Djibril during the visit to the Republic of South Africa.

There was an exchange of opinions about issues of co-operation in international parliamentary organisations and expansion of inter-parliamentary interaction as well as other matters during the meeting.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis