Azerbaijani, Albanian Parliament speakers discuss climate change, cooperation at COP29

Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Parliament of Azerbaijan) Sahiba Gafarova has discussed various issues, including bilateral relations, climate change and cooperation, with Speaker of the Albanian Parliament Elisa Spiropali.

Spiropali is currently in Azerbaijan to attend a Parliamentary meeting organized jointly by Azerbaijan’s Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union as part of the 29th session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Milli Majlis's press service.

The meeting saw Gafarova welcome Spiropali, expressing gratitude for her participation in COP29 and her insightful speech. Gafarova highlighted the involvement of Albanian President Edi Rama in the COP29 Leaders' Summit, noting that such participation reflects the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Albania.

Spiropali praised the high level of organization of both COP29 and the Parliamentary meeting, emphasizing the significance of the UN climate change conference. She acknowledged Azerbaijan's success in hosting this global event and noted that the Parliamentary meeting demonstrates the Milli Majlis's commitment to addressing climate change.

The two leaders emphasized that climate change is one of the most pressing global issues, affecting all countries. They underscored the importance of increasing support from developed countries to small island states, which are disproportionately impacted by climate change.

Spiropali also recalled her meeting with Speaker Gafarova in Geneva earlier this year, expressing satisfaction with the development of friendly relations between the two countries. Both leaders highlighted ongoing collaborative projects between Azerbaijan and Albania.

The discussions also touched on strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation, with both sides expressing satisfaction with their mutual support within various international parliamentary organizations. The expansion of reciprocal visits, contacts, and cooperation between parliamentary committees and friendship groups was identified as a means to deepen the bilateral relationship between Azerbaijan and Albania.

Gafarova also updated Spiropali on the situation in the region, expressing concern over political attacks and pressure from some states following Azerbaijan’s restoration of its territorial integrity and sovereignty. However, she reaffirmed Azerbaijan's commitment to its development path.

The meeting concluded with a mutual exchange of views on other issues of common interest.

By Khagan Isayev