Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova Meets with Chairman of Irish Parliament’s Dáil Éireann

Chair of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova, currently in the Republic of Ireland on a working visit, has had a conversation with Chairman of the Assembly of Ireland of the Oireachtas Éireann Seán Ó Fearghaíl.

Welcoming Mrs Gafarova, Mr Ó Fearghaíl expressed pleasure at the first ever visit of Speaker of the Milli Majlis to Ireland and told her of the current formation of a parliamentary friendship group for Azerbaijan, adding that, certainly, this development would contribute to the strengthening of our inter-legislature connexions.

Ireland is interested in investing abroad and in making economic and tourism ties stronger, according to Mr Ó Fearghaíl who described Azerbaijan as the main force in her region and shared his considerations regarding our country as a dependable energy partner of Europe. He also emphasised the importance of two-way visits for the progress of the bilateral inter-parliamentary and other relations, and commented on the relevant opportunities at hand.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova thanked for the hospitality extended to the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation before saying there is a fine potential to advance interaction in such fields as education, culture, humanitarian affairs and inter-parliamentary interaction.

As the conversation went on, Chair of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova informed Mr Ó Fearghaíl of the current situation in Azerbaijan and, especially, in the country’s Garabagh Region. Sahiba Gafarova recalled Azerbaijan’s having enforced the pertaining resolutions of the UN Security Council single-handedly by having freed her own lands from the Armenian occupation. Then, Mrs Gafarova continued, Azerbaijan had offered the opposing party a peace treaty that would be based on five principles of the international law. It has been 3 years since but Armenia has not signed that document yet, alas, according to Mrs Gafarova who added that Armenia had instead continued the political blackmailing of Azerbaijan internationally with the unfounded claims of ‘a blockade’ and ‘a humanitarian crisis’. Neither civil population nor facilities were ever targeted during the local anti-terrorist measures that Azerbaijan carried out in complete compliance with international law – including the international humanitarian law.

A complete ceasefire was agreed on following the appeal of Garabagh’s Armenian residents on 20 September, Speaker Gafarova continued. As agreed, the units of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian militant formations stationed in the Garabagh Region of Azerbaijan are to leave their positions and posts and lay down their arms, with the subsequent total disarmament of that whole force. Which is what is happening now, Sahiba Gafarova pointed out.

Integrating the Armenian populace of Garabagh in the Azerbaijani society is being negotiated currently; there have been two meetings with the delegates of the Armenian community of the region. Humanitarian aid and food supplies were sent to Khankendi. The Armenians wishing to leave for their own country were provided with an unimpeded and trouble-free exit from the region whereas those who desire to live in Garabagh are staying on. With that said, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova expressed a hope that the peace accord would finally be signed.

With the conversation over, Sahiba Gafarova made an entry in the memorable book, which was followed by a ceremony of welcoming the Chair of the Milli Majlis in the chambers of both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann of the Irish Parliament.