The 18^th of June meeting of the Milli Majlis Committee for International Relations and Inter-Parliamentary Connexions began with a discussion of the bilateral relations with the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Opening the meeting, Committee Chairman Samad Seyidov congratulated the Committee Members on the signing of the Shusha Declaration by the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey. Mr Seyidov remarked that the Declaration turned a new leaf in the Azerbaijani-Turkish co-operation and was going to contribute across the board to the region’s progress and stability. In general, he stressed, that document would have a material influence on the international situation.

Then, Mr Seyidov noted with regret the presence of the certain powers which, rather than upkeep the new opportunities to promote peace, tranquillity, economic growth and opening of communications in the region, would prefer the encroachments meant to plunge it into chaos and antagonism again. The Parliament of the Netherlands and, in particular, the Committee on Foreign Affairs have been passing the most biased and one-sided resolutions since the summer of 2020 calling for sanctions against Azerbaijan – arguably, at odds with the international laws. Such resolutions and the urges contained in them imperil the fragile peace and security created in the region. A response that would carry weight is required to the stance adopted by the Netherlands’ Parliament, the Committee Chairman emphasised before inviting the MPs to state their opinions and suggestions on the subject.

The Leader of the Azerbaijan-The Netherlands Inter-Parliamentary Contacts Working Group Eldar Guliyev mentioned in reply that the Milli Majlis had sent numerous appeals, letters and dialogue offers to the Netherlands’ Parliament in connection with this matter but the Netherlands side had not reacted in any manner but had invariably evaded any exchange of views.

As the MPs who took part in the debate said, the fact that the Netherlands’ Parliament had passed so many resolutions aimed at Azerbaijan after such a biased fashion and in such a short period of time is out of all proportion. Besides, those resolutions gravely damage the existing relationship between Azerbaijan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Deputy Committee Chair Sevinj Fataliyeva and Committee members Asim Mollazade, Rasim Musabeyov, Elman Nasirov, Nigyar Arpadarai, Sahib Aliyev, Nasib Mahamaliyev, Kamran Bayramov, Azer Karimli and Sevil Mikayilova deplored the Netherlands’ Parliament’s hostile attitude to Azerbaijan and Turkey. They voiced their ideas about the need to take a certain action against such an unfriendly position.

As he was summarising the debate, Samad Seyidov suggested that all the ideas spoken by the MPs should be condensed into one document that the parliamentary Committee for International Relations and Inter-Parliamentary Connexions would draft for submission – together with pertaining recommendations – to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Azerbaijan Republic. The same document would be circulated amongst other countries, including the Turkic and Muslim ones, and, last but not least, it would be presented to the Netherlands’ States General and Government.

This motion was seconded.

Next, the Committee looked at the other agenda item: the Bill containing amendments (in the third reading) to the laws ‘On Perpetuating the Shahid Title and on the Concessions for the Shahid Families’, ‘On the Social Insurance’, ‘On the Police’, ‘On the Shorter Hours Worked by Certain Civil Servant Categories’, ‘On the Compulsory Insurance of Persons Serving with the Azerbaijan Republic Diplomatic Stations in Foreign Countries and with International Institutions’, ‘On the Insurance Practice’, ‘On the Non-State (private) Security Activity’, ‘On the Social Adaptation of Persons Relieved of Penitentiary Sentence Service’ and ‘On the Protection of the Rights and Liberties of Persons Held in Detention Facilities’. The Committee members recommended that the draft amendments should be tabled at a plenary sitting of the Milli Majlis for the third reading.

MP Ramin Mammadov and Deputy Head of the 1^st Europe Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nigyar Huseynova took part in the meeting as well.  

The Press and Public Relations
Department The Milli Majlis