BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6.
Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the Parliamentary Union of the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (PUOIC) reflects its commitment
to strengthening solidarity and close ties within the Islamic
world, Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova said
in her address to the PUIC coordination meeting.


This was reported by the Press and Public Relations Department
of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament).


She noted that the 20th session of the PUIC Conference was
successfully held in Baku this June, and the Azerbaijani parliament
assumed the chairmanship of the organization.


Gafarova remarked that the PUIC brings together parliaments with
diverse national experiences and perspectives, and that member
parliaments are committed to dialogue, solidarity, and
inter-parliamentary cooperation.


The speaker emphasized that, in assuming the PUOIC chairmanship,
Azerbaijan is guided by the principles of peace, justice,
solidarity, tolerance, and human dignity, as well as sustainable
and inclusive development. According to her, experience shows that
countries from different regions and with diverse positions can
work together by focusing on consultation, mutual respect, and
shared interests.


Gafarova said that regional perspectives should play a more
prominent role in broader international parliamentary dialogue.


She also noted that during her visit to New York last month, she
met with the permanent representatives of the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states to the UN, where they
discussed how to better reflect the priorities and perspectives of
these countries in international decision-making processes.


The speaker highlighted the vast human, cultural, and economic
potential of the Islamic world. She noted, however, that several
societies within the Islamic world face challenges such as
conflict, forced displacement, poverty, climate-related pressures,
terrorism, extremism, and Islamophobia.


According to her, these challenges call for stronger practical
cooperation. She emphasized that the perspectives of parliaments
should not merely be represented in international institutions but
should also make a substantive contribution to shaping priorities
and decisions.


The parliamentary speakers and representatives of the PUIC
member countries speaking at the event highly appreciated the
organization's activities under the chairmanship of the Azerbaijani
parliament.