Azerbaijan-Italy alliance strengthened through cultural and legislative initiatives PHOTO

Chairman of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, held a meeting with the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy, Lorenzo Fontana, during her official visit to the Italian Republic.

The discussions focused on strengthening the bilateral relations between the two nations and their legislative bodies, Caliber.Az reports referring to local media.

Lorenzo Fontana warmly welcomed Sahiba Gafarova, expressing his belief that her visit would significantly contribute to the deepening and expansion of ties between the parliaments of Italy and Azerbaijan. He highlighted the importance of relations with Azerbaijan for Italy and expressed satisfaction with the progress of these ties at both the intergovernmental and parliamentary levels. Fontana also underlined the significance of Azerbaijan’s relationship with the European Union and emphasized Italy's readiness to support the further development of these connections. He commended Azerbaijan’s growth as a stable and strong nation.

In her remarks, Sahiba Gafarova noted that this was her second official visit to Italy, reflecting the importance Azerbaijan places on its relationship with the Italian Parliament. She described Italy as one of Azerbaijan's closest partners, with bilateral relations rooted in friendship and cooperation across many spheres.

The discussions emphasized the role of political dialogue, particularly through high-level visits and meetings, in fostering bilateral relations. Gafarova and Fontana acknowledged that mutual visits, especially at the presidential level, have been pivotal in advancing the partnership to a new stage.

The two leaders also highlighted the importance of parliamentary cooperation in enhancing both bilateral and multilateral ties. They noted the accumulated experience from mutual visits between parliamentary friendship groups and delegations. It was acknowledged that members of the Italian Parliament have participated in numerous significant events in Azerbaijan, and the activities of friendship groups were praised for building a bridge of communication and understanding between the legislative bodies.

The discussions also covered the value of educational, scientific, and cultural exchanges in strengthening ties between the two nations and fostering closer people-to-people connections. Particular attention was drawn to cultural initiatives spearheaded by Azerbaijan in Italy, including projects by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Sahiba Gafarova extended an invitation to Lorenzo Fontana to visit Azerbaijan, which he accepted with gratitude.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, reflecting the shared commitment to cooperation and partnership between the two countries.

By Tamilla Hasanova