As we have reported, the parliamentary delegation led by Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova are visiting in Kyrgyzstan’s city of Bishkek. The Speaker of the Milli Majlis delivered a speech at the 15^th Plenary Meeting of the TURKPA on 20 October as part of the working visit.

The Speaker of the Milli Majlis let it be known in her address that the TURKPA has become a platform of effective dialogue and co-operation, and has evolved as an important organisation commanding international recognition in the years since its first Plenary Meeting held in Baku in September 2009.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova mentioned the efficient and consistent conduct of the TURKPA activities along the diverse vectors. It was said that the TURKPA Standing Committees act as important co-ordinating mechanisms. As the Speaker of the Milli Majlis pointed out, an important model legislation framework is already being formed within the TURKPA frameworks.

Successful monitoring of elections and referenda was mentioned as one of the principal areas of joint operation. It serves to strengthen the role and authority of the TURKPA as an international monitoring institution whilst also functioning as an element of inter-parliamentary experience exchange. Seizing the opportunity, the Speaker congratulated the Kyrgyz and Kazakh colleagues on the successful conduct of parliamentary elections and a constitutional referendum.

According to the Speaker of the Milli Majlis, the TURKPA provides for yet greater expansion of co-operation amongst the Member States’ Parliaments in new directions. She mentioned the relevant significance of the work done by the Women Parliamentarians’ Group and the Young Parliamentarians’ Group. 

As she broached the role of young parliamentarians, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova mentioned that the incumbent Chairman of the Organisation of Turkic States, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr Ilham Aliyev had shared his thoughts about the threats countenanced by our countries and urged the Organisation to work actively in the youth policy area whilst he was receiving in Baku last month participants of the 5^th Meeting of the Secretaries of the Security Councils of the Organisation’s Member States. The Speaker then called on the TURKPA in general and the young MPs in particular to intensify their endeavours to that end. It was observed that the most important feature of the TURKPA is its uniting under one roof representatives of the peoples who have the common culture, history, language and national as well as spiritual values. That only adds to the responsibility of the MPs.

Sahiba Gafarova proceeded to say that artificial intelligence and technological progress have become the main element of modern governance and sustainable development of countries in the current period. This field has been prioritised in Azerbaijan. As the Speaker of the Milli Majlis remarked, there was a meeting on the new digital development strategy of our country and the Digital Development Plan was confirmed under the chairmanship of President Ilham Aliyev in February this year. She stressed also that the Digital Development Council had been established pursuant to a presidential decree and that the Council, which is headed by First Vice President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban khanum Aliyeva, is forming a unified approach in the fields of digitalisation, e-government, AI and innovations whilst also co-ordinating the national policy.

Touching upon the energetic work of the Milli Majlis to strengthen the corresponding legal frameworks, Sahiba Gafarova said that new legislative acts are adopted in order to support the digital transformation of our country. Such concepts as digital technologies, innovative products and technology transfer are being added to the national legislation; the AI legal status is being defined.

Alongside the legislative reforms, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis also told about the Azerbaijani Parliament’s effective use in its work of the opportunities generated by technological progress. She told the assembly about the steps being taken to ensure extensive use of modern technological capabilities and digital technologies in streamlining the activities of the legislative body.

It was also mentioned in the address that the Final Declaration of the 12^th Summit of the Organisation of Turkic States, held in the Azerbaijani town of Gabala in October last year, too, places a special emphasis on the significance of co-operation in the AI field. Speaker Sahiba Gafarova mentioned the already-gained positive experience in that field as well as the launch a few days ago of the Trans-Caspian Fibre-Optic Cable Line implemented by Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan together as part of the Digital Silk Way Initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The Speaker of the Milli Majlis pointed out that artificial intelligence and technological progress provide new opportunities but also pose new challenges and further risks in cybersecurity and information security. All that makes interaction in that area yet more necessary.

Concluding her address, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis wished Speaker of the Joqorgu Kenes of the Kyrgyz Republic Marlen Mamataliev success with his TURKPA chairmanship and said she was certain that the forthcoming discussions and decisions of the 15^th Plenary Meeting will contribute considerably to the strengthening of co-operation.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis