Azerbaijan and Serbia Strengthen Bilateral Ties at Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly
Geneva, The Gulf Observer: During the 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union held in Geneva, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis and Speaker Ana Brnabic of the National Assembly of Serbia convened on the sidelines to reaffirm and enhance the longstanding friendship and cooperation between their respective nations.
Both speakers hailed the current state of robust relations between Azerbaijan and Serbia, acknowledging the strides made in political, economic, and broader collaborative endeavors. Speaker Sahiba Gafarova underscored the pivotal role played by the excellent rapport between the heads of state in fostering enduring friendship between the two nations and their peoples. She emphasized the continuity of positive relations between the two legislative bodies, highlighting the significance of reciprocal visits and discussions in strengthening ties.
Recalling her own official visit to Serbia, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova expressed gratitude for the fruitful exchanges held during the trip, which have contributed to the deepening of parliamentary relations between Azerbaijan and Serbia. The speakers also explored avenues to expand cooperation between friendship groups and parliamentary committees, underscoring the importance of inter-legislature links in bolstering bilateral connections.
Speaker Ana Brnabic extended her congratulations to President Ilham Aliyev on his resounding victory in Azerbaijan’s recent snap presidential election, noting the observation of the election process by a Serbian monitoring mission, which affirmed its fairness and democratic nature. She conveyed Serbia’s keen interest in further broadening the scope of relations with Azerbaijan across various sectors, emphasizing the pivotal role of parliamentary exchanges in advancing bilateral cooperation.
Both speakers deplored the prevalence of double standards in international relations, including within organizations such as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), emphasizing the need for adherence to principles of fairness and equality.
The discussion also touched upon the significance of the upcoming 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, with Serbia extending congratulations to Azerbaijan for its forthcoming hosting of the event.
In a gesture of solidarity, the Parliament of Serbia voiced its protest against the refusal to affirm the credentials of the Azerbaijani Delegation to the PACE, with Speaker Sahiba Gafarova expressing gratitude for Serbia’s support in this matter.
The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on various other matters of mutual interest, underscoring the commitment of both nations to further deepen and diversify their bilateral cooperation for the mutual benefit of their peoples.
