The International Forum of Inter-Parliamentary Global Co-operation in the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals began in Bukhara on 23 June. It is organised by the Senate of Uzbekistan’s Oliy Majlis in partnership with the UN.

Held in the hybrid format, the forum brings together multitudes of representatives of the UN, international organisations and a great many national parliaments from the world over. The Milli Majlis is represented by MP Arzu Naghiyev.

The opening section of the forum had the participants hear the addresses from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of the Republic of Uzbekistan (on video), Chair of the Senate of Uzbekistan’s Oliy Majlis Tanzila Narbayeva, Chairman of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis Nurdinjon Ismoilov, the IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong, President of the UN Economic and Social Council Munir Akram (on video), President of the OSCE PA Peter Lord Bowness (on video), the TURKPA Secretary General Altinbek Mamayusupov, the Asian Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Mohammad Reza Majidi (on video), Chairman of the Great National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Şentop (read by Chairman of a GNAT Committee Ismet Uçma) and the UN Permanent Representative in Uzbekistan Helena Fraser.

MP Arzu Naghiyev spoke on the subject of ‘The Co-operation and Inter-Parliamentary Connexions of the Turkic-Speaking Countries’ at the second session of the forum themed ‘Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in the Context of the National Development Strategies’.

Arzu Naghiyev informed the participants of the forum of the co-operation format in the Turkic-speaking states’ employ; he also touched on the role that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic-Speaking Countries had played in the expansion of their inter-parliamentary co-operation. The TURKPA does not merely serve as a platform for inter—parliamentary co-operation, Mr Naghiyev stressed. Rather, it has also won the great repute with its members as well as the countries of the region as a site hosting information, experience and cultural exchanges and working on strengthening economic and political ties. Then, Mr Naghiyev spoke of the relevant undertakings of Azerbaijan’s parliament, adding that the Azerbaijani legislature attached a great importance to international co-operation and parliamentary diplomacy. Besides, he underlined the part the parliamentary diplomacy has to play in solidifying the new co-operation opportunities that had arisen in the region consequent to the brilliant victory that Azerbaijan had achieved under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief and President Ilham Aliyev in the 44 days’ Patriotic War.

The forum will continue in sessions on 24 June, and is expected to be capped with signing of the Bukhara Declaration.

The Press and Public Relations
Department The Milli Majlis