Azerbaijan Assumes PUIC Chairmanship at Opening of OIC Parliamentary Conference in Baku
Baku, The Gulf Observer: The 20th Session of the Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States (PUIC) officially opened in Baku on Wednesday, bringing together parliamentary leaders and representatives from across the Islamic world to discuss cooperation and shared challenges.
At the opening ceremony, Speaker of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova read out a message from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed to the participants of the conference.
During the event, the chairmanship of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States was formally transferred from Indonesia to Azerbaijan, marking the beginning of Azerbaijan’s tenure at the helm of the parliamentary body.
In a video message, Speaker of Indonesia’s House of Representatives Puan Maharani highlighted the OIC’s significant role in promoting dialogue, peace, and sustainable development among member states over the years. She also expressed appreciation to Azerbaijan for the successful organization of the conference.
Addressing the gathering, Gafarova said that strengthening relations with Muslim countries, both bilaterally and through international organizations, remains a key priority of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy.
She noted that OIC member states had consistently demonstrated solidarity with Azerbaijan during and after the conflict over its territories and recalled that the OIC and PUIC had adopted numerous resolutions over the past three decades supporting Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Gafarova also underscored Azerbaijan’s efforts to promote Islamic culture and values, emphasizing that the country has hosted numerous international events and initiatives aimed at showcasing Islam as a religion of peace, tolerance, and mercy.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mouhamed Khouraichi Niass, Secretary-General of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States, expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for supporting the conference and for Azerbaijan’s commitment to strengthening cooperation across the Islamic world.
He described the event as a reflection of the importance Azerbaijan places on Islamic solidarity and international cooperation, while also highlighting Baku’s growing reputation as a venue for major international gatherings.
Niass noted that the conference was taking place at a particularly challenging time for the international community, citing increasing divisions within the global justice system and a range of political, economic, and humanitarian challenges facing the Islamic world.
He warned that ongoing conflicts in various regions continue to cause human suffering while undermining global food security and energy supplies. Stressing the need for peaceful solutions, he said dialogue remains the most effective means of resolving disputes and preventing further instability.
Following the opening session, participants approved the report of the OIC Secretary-General and reviewed a number of agenda items related to parliamentary cooperation and contemporary challenges facing member states.
Parliamentary speakers from across the OIC also emphasized the growing importance of legislative institutions in addressing global issues and advancing cooperation, development, and stability throughout the Islamic world.
