The parliamentary delegation helmed by Chair of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova had a meeting with Chairman of the Council of States of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland Thomas Hefti on 10 May as part of their current official visit to that country.

Following his cordial greetings to the Azerbaijani delegation, Thomas Hefti said that the visit of Sahiba Gafarova to his country as speaker of parliament was bound to play a role in broadening the relations between the two states and their legislative assemblies. The inter-parliamentary co-operation occupies a special place in the inter-state relations, in the opinion of Mr Hefti who added that Switzerland thought its diverse interaction with Azerbaijan to be very important. Mr Hefti put a particular emphasis on the economic relations and the extensive opportunities to enrich them further.

Chair of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova thanked for the hospitality and mentioned the progress of the ties between Azerbaijan and Switzerland as two friendly countries and partner-states.

Mrs Gafarova touched on the Azerbaijani-Swiss inter-parliamentary relations. She mentioned fondly their fruitful co-operation, noting then that regular contacts, dialogue and exchanges of opinions promoted a continued strengthening of those links. The two  sides’ parliamentary committees exchanging practical legislative experience and joining forces to various ends could generate new opportunities to make the linkage yet more profound.

Besides, Sahiba Gafarova updated Thomas Hefti of Azerbaijan’s having liberated its lands after thirty years of the Armenian occupation, of Armenia’s having destroyed completely buildings, infrastructure, tangible heritage and religious monuments of our nation in the already-liberated regions of Azerbaijan, and of the current restoration and rebuilding works afoot there. Efforts are continued now towards normalisation of the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Certain arrangements had been secured at the trilateral meeting in Brussels which had been held on the initiative of President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel and which he had himself taken part in. Armenia shows acceptance of the five principles motioned by Azerbaijan as those to underly the eventual peace treaty. Azerbaijan wants lasting peace and stability in the region, and hopes, at that, that a peace accord will be signed between the two states soon enough.

Other matters of interest to both sides were discussed during the conversation as well.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis