Secretary General: Azerbaijan sets a model for cooperation with successful APA chairmanship

Azerbaijan has set a shining example of cooperation as it successfully chaired the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), fulfilling all planned programmes under its leadership, said APA Secretary General, Mohammad Reza Majidi.

During the opening ceremony of the 15th plenary session of the Assembly in Baku, Majidi emphasized that the APA, under Azerbaijan’s chairmanship, had completed all its planned initiatives, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

He further noted that the Assembly is committed to strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation, with the Palestinian issue remaining a central focus on its agenda. "We strive to further enhance our collaborative efforts," he added.

The ceremony also marked significant developments, with Majidi congratulating Oman on its membership in the APA and Belarus on its new status as an observer in the organization.

In her address, Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova highlighted Azerbaijan's individual fulfilment of UN resolutions, which led to the restoration of its territorial integrity. Gafarova stressed that adherence to international norms and principles is vital for peace, and multilateral cooperation remains the only path to achieving lasting stability.

"One of the main objectives of parliamentary work is to transcend national boundaries," she said. She also touched upon ongoing efforts to finalize the APA's budget, which is expected to create the necessary conditions for further strengthening the Assembly.

The session also saw Bahrain announce its intention to nominate itself for the next chairmanship of the APA. Ali Saleh Abdullah as-Saleh, Chairman of Bahrain's Consultative Council, expressed that the APA should serve as "the voice of the peoples of Asia in the modern global system."

By Aghakazim Guliyev