Advisory Council of Azerbaijan Friendship Groups in EU member states' parliaments to be established

An advisory council of Azerbaijan friendship groups in the EU member states' parliaments will be established, according to a decision adopted during a Tallinn conference “Parliaments of the European Union states and Azerbaijan: development of inter-parliamentary cooperation and establishment of an advisory council of Azerbaijan friendship groups in the EU member states parliaments”.

The conference was co-organized by the Azerbaijan State Committee for Working with Diaspora, the country`s embassy in Latvia, parliament of Estonia, Azerbaijan-Estonia interparliamentary working group and Estonia-Azerbaijan Culture Center “Aydan”.

The event brought together official of Azerbaijan's Presidential Administration, members of the friendship groups in the parliaments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Azerbaijani MPs and representatives of NGOs, municipalities and mass media.

The event participants discussed issues regarding establishment of the advisory council of the Azerbaijan friendship groups in parliaments of EU member states. The conference was opened by the Estonian parliament's vice speaker Keit Pentus.

Member of the Estonian parliament of Azeri origin, head of the Estonia-Azerbaijan friendship group Eldar Afandiyev said in spite of the normal relations between the parliaments of Baltic States and Azerbaijan, there are some obstacles to cooperation to overcome.

He added "it would be expedient to establish a permanent institution to address these problems."

Deputy chief of Estonian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Enn Eesmaa drew the attention to the European Parliament's report on the need for an EU Strategy for the South Caucasus. Eesmaa said Armenia must withdraw its armed forces from Azerbaijan`s Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent regions.

Member of the Estonia parliament Vladimir Velman stressed the necessity to establish close cooperation between the Baltic Assembly and GUAM member states.

Azerbaijani MP Rovshan Rzayev underlined the need for his country's European integration. He also spoke of the Azerbaijani leadership's steps towards resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Rzayev noted the conflict was a major hindrance to the development of not only Azerbaijan but also the entire region.

Deputy chief of Azerbaijan Presidential Administration's department for social and political affairs Arastun Mehdiyev briefed the participants on how his country fulfills its commitments towards the Council of Europe.

Latvian MP, chairman of the group for cooperation with Azerbaijan parliament Oleg Denisov also spoke of Azerbaijan's integration into Europe. Department chief of the Azerbaijan State Committee for Working with the Diaspora Surəddin Humbətov said Diaspora organizations could make contribution to Azerbaijan`s integration into Europe.

Vice-speaker of the Estonian parliament Juri Ratas underlined the importance of the conference and wished successes to the advisory council. He expressed assurance that the advisory council would make real contributions to the interparliamentary cooperation.


/AzerTAc/