Chair of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova met with Chair of the Latvian Saeima Ināra Mūrniece on 6 September as part of Mrs Gafarova’s current working trip to Austria. Welcoming her colleague cordially, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova said that Azerbaijan attached a great importance to furthering its relations in various aspects of life with Latvia, a friendly state and its strategic partner. The chair of the Milli Majlis added that both countries had moved on to a new stage in the evolution of their relations upon restoration of state independence. The past period has seen the successful political, economic and humanitarian co-operation. Having underlined the special role of the two states’ heads in the progress of the bilateral relations, Sahiba Gafarova stressed the significance of both countries’ leaders’ reciprocal visits.

    The close interaction between Azerbaijan and Latvia in the European institutions, in the Eastern Partnership and upon other international platforms was mentioned in the course of the meeting, too. The relations built in the bilateral and international organisations rest on the principles of mutual respect and equitable co-operation.

    Talking of the co-operation between the legislatures of Azerbaijan and Latvia then, Speaker S Gafarova emphasised the importance of the work done by the friendship groups active in both assemblies.

     The chair of the Milli Majlis also briefed the Latvian colleague on Azerbaijan’s victory in the 44-day Patriotic War of 2020. Mrs Gafarova said that the thirty-year-long Armenian occupation had been put paid to thanks to the valour of our Army led by President and Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev. in addition, Azerbaijan enforced the four resolutions of the UN Security Council relying on its own devices only. The Garabagh Conflict is committed to the annals of history; restoration and rebuilding work had been started in our lands freed from the invaders by now, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova pointed out. She also told of Armenia having demolished our towns and villages it had held under occupation for three decades, the destruction by Armenia of our historical and cultural heritage situated in the already-freed provinces, the plundering of our natural wealth, the desecration of our shrines and mosques and the total annihilation of all infrastructure in those parts. The provocative moves of Armenia hindering the maintenance of sustainable peace in the region were mentioned as well.

    The chair of the Latvian parliament Ināra Mūrniece, in turn, greeted the chair of the Milli Majlis sincerely, voiced her satisfaction with the advancement of the relations between our countries and said that Latvia attached a great importance to development of its relations with Azerbaijan. Our high-level political ties have the manifest positive influence on our economic, cultural and humanitarian interaction, according to Mrs Mūrniece.

    Ināra Mūrniece stressed the dramatic role of parliamentary diplomacy in the system of international relations, touched on the relationship between the legislative assemblies of our countries and talked about the current state and growth prospects of the inter-parliamentary ties as well as about various aspects of co-operation, be it bilateral or through international platforms. Mrs Mūrniece referred to the upward dynamics in the relations, adding that the exchanged visits served the cause of promoting those relations.

    There was also an exchange of views upon other topics of interest to both parties during the conversation.  

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis