Azerbaijani speaker calls for stronger inter-parliamentary cooperation

Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova has emphasised the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation as a vital mechanism for addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development, particularly in landlocked countries.

Speaking at the Parliamentary Forum in Turkmenistan, which focused on sustainable development in landlocked nations, Gafarova underlined that cooperation between parliaments promotes the exchange of experience and helps pool efforts at the international level. She thanked the forum organisers for their hospitality and highlighted the pivotal role of legislative bodies in translating international commitments into concrete national actions, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

Gafarova noted that legislative bodies have strong mechanisms in the areas of lawmaking, budgeting and oversight, which enable them to turn international commitments into national actions.

She emphasised the role of parliaments in bridging the gap between the state and society and in conveying civil initiatives to government authorities.

Sharing Azerbaijan’s national experience, Gafarova highlighted how the country, despite being landlocked, has turned geographical limitations into competitive advantages by investing heavily in transport infrastructure.

She cited major projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the Digital Silk Road initiative.

She also spoke about Azerbaijan’s cooperation with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the area of green energy, describing it as a key element of regional sustainable development.

In conclusion, Gafarova stressed the need to strengthen international support for landlocked countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and implement the 2030 Agenda.

By Sabina Mammadli