An Azerbaijani delegation led by Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova is on a working visit to Tanzania to participate in the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
During the visit, Sahiba Gafarova attended a coordination meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Addressing the meeting, Sahiba Gafarova noted that it was held under the chairmanship of the Azerbaijani Parliament, which assumed the chairmanship of the OIC Parliamentary Union following the successful 20th Conference held in Baku in June. She emphasized that the chairmanship reflects Azerbaijan’s commitment to strengthening solidarity and ties within the Muslim world.
As President of the 20th Conference, Gafarova highlighted the organization’s role in bringing together parliaments with diverse national experiences and perspectives, united by a commitment to dialogue, solidarity, and parliamentary cooperation.
She noted that Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the OIC Parliamentary Union is guided by the principles of peace, justice, solidarity, tolerance, human dignity, and sustainable and inclusive development.
Sahiba Gafarova emphasized that countries with diverse regional perspectives can work together through consultation, mutual respect, and common interests, stressing the importance of strengthening regional voices in international parliamentary dialogue.
She also recalled her meeting with the permanent representatives of OIC member states to the UN in New York, where they discussed better reflecting their countries’ priorities in international decision-making.
Highlighting the Muslim world’s vast human, cultural, and economic potential, the Speaker noted that many of these societies face challenges including conflict, forced displacement, poverty, climate pressures, terrorism, extremism, and Islamophobia. She stressed that addressing these challenges requires stronger practical cooperation. She also underscored that the perspectives of parliaments should not merely be represented in international institutions, but should contribute meaningfully to shaping priorities and decisions.
AZERTAC