Belarus, Azerbaijan interested in closer inter-parliamentary contacts

Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Natalya Kochanova has welcomed Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova in Minsk, BelTA has learned. 

The Azerbaijani delegation arrived in Belarus on 9 June. The guests were met at Minsk National Airport by Natalya Kochanova. “Thank you for accepting the invitation to come to our country on an official visit. It's noteworthy that it is taking place in the wake of wonderful meetings between the presidents of our countries. Aleksandr Grigorievich has recently visited Azerbaijan. Shortly after that, a deputy prime minister of Azerbaijan has come to Belarus,” Natalya Kochanova recalled. “Of course, your visit means a lot for us, for the whole country, for parliamentarians. We are sincerely glad that our friends are here with us today. I am sure that we will be able to discuss all matters related to our inter-parliamentary cooperation in order to further expand our relations and fulfill the arrangements reached by our heads of state,” the speaker emphasized.

“We appreciate the invitation to visit your wonderful and beautiful country, a country of amazing people,” Sahiba Gafarova said.

The program of the visit is very busy. It includes meetings with senior officials of the two chambers of the Belarusian parliament and government, signing of cooperation documents, visit to Belarusian State University and other events.

Belarusian parliamentarians actively interact with their Azerbaijani counterparts on such inter-parliamentary platforms as the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly and the Interparliamentary Union. During Azerbaijan's chairmanship in the Non-Aligned Movement, the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan suggested creating a parliamentary network of the Non-Aligned Movement. Belarusian parliamentarians became part of this new inter-parliamentary structure. The delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus was led by Natalya Kochanova. The parliamentary network promotes fundamental values ​​and principles of the movement and provides parliamentary support for decisions made. Belarusian parliamentarians regularly participate in events of the new inter-parliamentary structure. MPs are actively involved in monitoring election campaigns in Belarus and Azerbaijan. 

A working group to promote cooperation with the Parliament of Azerbaijan has been set up in the National Assembly of Belarus of the eighth convocation. The working group is headed by Chairman of the Standing Commission on Legislation and State Building of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Rusy. 

Written by belta.by