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The 65th General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation (PABSEC) took place in Baku on 18 June. Speaker of the Milli Majlis and PABSEC Chairwoman Sahiba Gafarova delivered a speech at the Assembly.
Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova voiced her delight at the opportunity to welcome the guests to Baku before saying that such meetings as this foster closer ties between peoples and strengthen mutual understanding.
She emphasised that Azerbaijan has always, at the state level, attached great importance to dialogue, peaceful coexistence and international co-operation. According to her, Baku is today becoming a hub where ideas are born, experiences are exchanged and solutions are sought, all of which are capable of transforming our region for the better collectively.
Speaker Sahiba Gafarova particularly pointed up the fact that Azerbaijan’s successful organisation of this significant international forum was made possible by the far-sighted and strategically effective political course pursued under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. It is precisely due to the guidance of the Head of State that Azerbaijan has managed to maintain internal stability, restore justice, ensure sustainable development and transform itself into a dynamic, self-confident and authoritative state. As the Speaker of the Milli Majlis then stated, Azerbaijan is now a country that not only addresses contemporary challenges but also actively shapes the regional and global agenda, advocating and promoting peace, development and equal co-operation.
Speaker Sahiba Gafarova further reminded the audience that, in the post-Second World War era, Azerbaijan is the only country to have liberated her occupied territories and restored her territorial integrity.
The Speaker of the Milli Majlis underscored the truly unique role of the BSEC in our region. This organisation unites countries from the Balkans to the Caucasus, from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea. In her words, this is not merely geography: we are bound by a shared history, culture, economic interests, and, most importantly, a joint aspiration for peace and development.
As she expressed her confidence that discussions at the General Assembly will be grounded in the core principles of democracy, mutual respect and trust, Sahiba Gafarova added that, to ensure decisions do not remain mere words, necessary work ought to be undertaken, concrete steps taken and tangible initiatives proposed, all capable of transforming people’s lives, turning dialogue into policy and policy into real action. The Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament stressed the importance of strengthening co-operation between parliaments, promoting the harmonisation of legislative acts underpinning sustainable development and reinforcing the rule of law. It is essential to move from words to concrete, effective, transparent and long-term co-operation mechanisms, with particular attention given to sustainable development. She pointed to the need to establish co-operation mechanisms that not only address today’s challenges but also pave the way for the future. In her view, today’s decisions must be not only operational but also strategic in nature. Digitalisation, innovation, and the green economy should be central to our agenda. The Speaker also touched upon the importance of co-operation in the cultural sphere, stating that cultural ties serve as a true bridge between peoples. Alongside this, student exchanges, joint projects, and efforts to preserve historical heritage bring nations even closer together. For culture is a language understood by all, regardless of borders or perspectives.
She went further to tell the audience that artificial intelligence constitutes another remarkable topic. It is already impacting economy, education, healthcare and public administration. Therefore, it is necessary to work together to develop a common ethical and legal framework, encourage joint research and ensure equal access to artificial intelligence for all countries in the region.
Additionally, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova stressed the need to promote parliamentarism as one of the primary forms of protecting human rights and representing the people. She stated that the Assembly must uphold the rule of law, transparency and accountability in the region, thereby demonstrating that parliamentary institutions genuinely serve the interests of the people.
As Sahiba Gafarova reiterated, Azerbaijan has always advocated for co-operation and partnership that benefits all. Our country shares its experience and capabilities to achieve tangible and comprehensive success. Today, energy projects and strategic pipelines initiated by Azerbaijan play an indispensable role in ensuring energy security, both within the region and beyond. Furthermore, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis observed that, thanks to substantial investments in transport infrastructure, Azerbaijan has become one of Eurasia’s key transport hubs, providing a vital and reliable link between East and West along the Middle Corridor. In her words, projects to develop the Caspian–Black Sea–Europe Green Energy Corridor will create opportunities for exporting significant green energy resources from the Caspian to Europe, contributing to the green development agenda of our countries.
Having announced that the General Assembly participants were going to take trip to the de-occupied Azerbaijani territories as part of the event, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis remarked that the guests would be able to witness first-hand the devastating consequences of the 30-year-long Armenian occupation of the internationally recognised Azerbaijani territories. At the same time, they would eye-witness the large-scale restoration and amenity work afoot in those territories. The Speaker pointed out that the liberation of these territories not only restored our territorial integrity and sovereignty but also created favourable conditions for long-term peace and stability. This, in turn, opens new and broader opportunities for cooperation in our region. Thus, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the country looks confidently to the future and strives to ensure that its experience contributes to the overall prosperity of the region.
In conclusion, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova said once more that she was certain the 65th PABSEC session would turn a page in co-operation, and wished the event participants success in their forthcoming work.
