BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 16. A Memorandum of
Understanding has been signed between the Pan-African Parliament
and the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM
PN).


This was reported by the Press and Public Relations Department
of the Azerbaijani Parliament following a meeting between Speaker
Sahiba Gafarova and a delegation from the Pan-African Parliament,
headed by its President, Fateh Boutbig, who is currently on a visit
to Azerbaijan.


The Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament recalled with
satisfaction her meeting with the guest in July of this year in the
Republic of South Africa as part of the Conference of Speakers of
National and Regional Parliaments of the Pan-African Parliament and
expressed her gratitude for the high level of organization of the
event and the invitation to participate in it.


At the meeting, it was noted that the Pan-African Parliament
plays an important role in fostering interparliamentary dialogue on
the African continent, expanding cooperation among member states,
and advancing common development goals.


Speaker Sahiba Gafarova emphasized that the Azerbaijani
Parliament attaches particular importance to developing relations
with the parliaments of African countries. In this context, the
development of parliamentary diplomacy, the further expansion of
interparliamentary ties, and the strengthening of political
dialogue are of great importance.


During the meeting, Speaker Gafarova provided information on the
activities of the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement
(NAM-PN) and the Youth Organization of the Non-Aligned Movement
(NAM-YO), established at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev,
the work carried out by Azerbaijan during its chairmanship of the
NAM-PN, as well as the initiatives put forward by our country. The
Speaker expressed confidence that the Pan-African Parliament will
become yet another successful platform for developing our relations
with the parliaments of African states.


Noting that the guest, in addition to representing the
Pan-African Parliament, is also a member of the Algerian
Parliament, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova emphasized that bilateral
relations between our countries are developing at various levels
and are a cause for satisfaction.


Expressing his gratitude for the hospitality shown to him, Fateh
Boutbig, President of the Pan-African Parliament, noted that since
his election to this position, Azerbaijan has been the first
country outside of Africa that he has visited. Speaking about the
growing role of parliamentary diplomacy, the guest noted that the
organization he heads is ready to cooperate with the parliaments of
various countries, as well as with international parliamentary
organizations.


Describing this visit as an important step forward in the
development of cooperation, Fateh Boutbig noted that the Memorandum
of Understanding between the Pan-African Parliament and the
Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement, which will be
signed today, will help take cooperation between the two
parliamentary bodies to a new level and lay a solid foundation for
further joint activities.


During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the
development of cooperation between the Pan-African Parliament and
the Azerbaijani Parliament, as well as with the Parliamentary
Network of the Non-Aligned Movement, and on other issues.


Following a meeting between the Pan-African Parliament and the
Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM PN), a
Memorandum of Understanding was signed. The document was signed by
Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan and
Chairperson of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network (NAM
PN), and Fateh Boutbig, President of the Pan-African Parliament.
Speaker Sahiba Gafarova noted that this document represents an
important step in the further development of cooperation between
the two parliamentary platforms.