Inter-Parliamentary Union on Azerbaijani-Armenian Speakers' meeting

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on March 22 received high-level delegations from Armenia and Azerbaijan ahead of the 148th IPU Assembly to be held from March 23 to 27 in Geneva.

IPU President Tulia Ackson and the organization's Secretary General Martin Chungong welcomed at the IPU headquarters the Azerbaijani delegation led by Milli Majlis Speaker Sahiba Gafarova and the Armenian delegation led by National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan, Trend reports citing the organization.

"The meeting was envisaged as a complement and contribution at the parliamentary level to the governmental peace talks between the two sides. Parliamentarians, as representatives of the people, have a key role in reducing tensions and building confidence, as well as in ratifying and implementing a future peace agreement. The IPU offered both sides its good offices to facilitate dialogue, build good neighborly relations, and help pave the way for normalization of relations between the two countries. This was the first meeting at the parliamentary level of the two countries. Both sides agreed to continue the dialogue to restore confidence under the auspices of the IPU," the organization said in a statement.

The meeting followed visits by the IPU Secretary General to Armenia and Azerbaijan in February 2024, during which he met with authorities at the highest level and laid some groundwork for today's discussions.

The IPU also signed memoranda of understanding with Armenia, which will host the IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in September 2024, and with Azerbaijan as Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network (NAM PN).

"In today's world, where conflict dominates the news headlines, the value of dialogue cannot be overstated. Parliamentary diplomacy can be an essential complement to the ongoing efforts of governments to broker peace agreements. Parliaments and their leadership have the ability and power to bring peace and unite peoples," said IPU President Tulia Ackson.

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong, on his part, noted that the IPU has identified peace and security as its main focus for 2024.

"Promoting dialogue between parliaments in countries in conflict is a key element of the organization's mandate and something we have been doing for the past 135 years. We welcome the meeting of the two Speakers and commend their willingness to engage in dialogue," he added.