On September 16, Speaker of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) Sahiba Gafarova met with a delegation led by Pan-African Parliament President Fatih Boutbiq, who is visiting Azerbaijan.
The Milli Majlis Press and Public Relations Department told "Operative Information Center-OMM".
Speaker Sahiba Gafarova said that the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan attaches particular importance to developing relations with the parliaments of African countries. She said parliamentary diplomacy, expanding interparliamentary ties and strengthening political dialogue were of significant importance in this regard.
During the meeting, the Azerbaijani side provided information about the activities of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network (NAM PN) and the Non-Aligned Movement Youth Organization (NAMYO), established on the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev, as well as the work carried out during Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the NAM PN and initiatives put forward by the country.
The speaker expressed confidence that the Pan-African Parliament would become another successful platform for developing Azerbaijan's relations with the parliaments of African states.
Pan-African Parliament President Fatih Boutbiq said Azerbaijan was the first country outside Africa that he had visited since being elected to the post.
The sides exchanged views on developing cooperation between the Pan-African Parliament and the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as between the Pan-African Parliament and the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network, along with other issues.
Following the meeting, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Pan-African Parliament and the NAM PN. The document was signed by Sahiba Gafarova, speaker of the Milli Majlis and chair of the NAM PN, and Pan-African Parliament President Fatih Boutbiq.
The Pan-African Parliament is the legislative body of the African Union and serves as a platform for dialogue and cooperation among parliamentarians from African countries. Parliamentary networks such as the NAM PN contribute to strengthening contacts and exchanging experience among lawmakers from member states.
