Baku, London relaunch interparliamentary relations working group

The Azerbaijan–UK Interparliamentary Relations Working Group has been officially reconstituted, Fariz Ismailzade, head of the group and deputy chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee on Science and Education, told lawmakers during a plenary session on Tuesday, February 10, according to local media.

Ismailzade said he had taken part in a meeting of the working group in London several days earlier and outlined the circumstances that led to its revival.

“Due to problems with certain internal procedures in the UK Parliament, the activities of the working group, the rules for their formation were changed some time ago, and in many cases were tightened. However, as a result of the regular and consistent propaganda work carried out by our embassy, parliament, and the speaker, the working group was reformed. According to the new rules, MPs from four different parties put their signatures for the establishment of this group,” he said.

According to Ismailzade, discussions during the meetings centred on the regional peace agenda, the accelerating development of Azerbaijani-UK ties, and the new geopolitical realities in the South Caucasus. He said particular attention was paid to Azerbaijan’s “brilliant victory,” its emergence as a key transport hub across the Eurasian region, as well as energy policy and Azerbaijan’s role in global mediation efforts. Participants noted that, as a result of President Ilham Aliyev’s far-sighted policy, relations between Azerbaijan and the UK have reached a strategic level.

“UK MPs expressed hope for the deepening of cooperation in new areas within the framework of Azerbaijani-UK strategic relations, including technologies, green energy, artificial intelligence, logistics, security, defence industry, and other areas,” Ismailzade said.

He added that British lawmakers also highlighted the Azerbaijani parliament’s active role in parliamentary diplomacy, with both sides agreeing to organise reciprocal bilateral visits.

Ismailzade further noted that he took part in a conference on the South Caucasus hosted by leading think tanks during the visit. While overseas trips and meetings by Azerbaijani MPs are common, he stressed that the restoration of the interparliamentary working group and the strengthening of ties with the legislature of a leading country such as the UK merit particular attention.

“At the same time, I participated in a conference on the South Caucasus at leading think tanks. Foreign trips and meetings of our MPs are frequent. However, the reformation of the working group and the deepening of relations with the parliament of a leading country like the UK deserve special attention,” Ismailzade said.

By Tamilla Hasanova