BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 15. Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova has met with the 76th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Member of the House of Lords Baroness Theresa May, Trend reports.
While greeting the guests attending COP29 in Baku, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova remarked on the importance of this international gathering.
Baroness Theresa May commended our nation for holding a globally significant event, stating that COP29, which attracted over 70,000 people, was the focal point of international attention. The guest remembered that Glasgow had hosted a COP event, noting their comprehension of the significant responsibilities entailed in its organization. The Baroness reiterated the elevated arrangements for COP29 by Azerbaijan.
According to Speaker Sahiba Gafarova, Azerbaijan, being a country exposed to climate change, has always paid close attention to environmental protection matters, including the use of renewable energy sources, and had done it before her COP29 presidency, too. She also briefed her guests on the green energy development projects afoot in the de-occupied territories.
It was emphasized that climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time and one that requires immediate action. As the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament pointed out, the politicization of events where such important matters are discussed is unacceptable. She expressed regret over the political attacks and attempts to pressure Azerbaijan by certain states before the event. The Speaker described it as a manifestation of a jealous attitude towards Azerbaijan’s restoration of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The considerable role of parliaments in combating climate change-induced problems was emphasized in the course of the conversation as well. In this context, they underscored the significance of the Parliamentary Meeting, due on 16-17 November, which the Azerbaijani Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union are organizing together.
They also exchanged views on the importance of the interaction between our parliaments as one of the key factors in the progress of Azeri-British relations. The guest was informed about the Azerbaijani Parliament. Sahiba Gafarova was glad to recall her official visit to the United Kingdom; she said that the meetings held during that visit had contributed favorably to the advancement of the links between the two countries’ legislative assemblies.
There was also a discussion of gender equality and women’s state issues. Sahiba Gafarova mentioned the special attention paid to women’s issues in our country. Azerbaijan gave women suffrage as soon as 1918, sooner than the majority of Western countries. Nowadays, women fill elevated positions in our country, whereas our Parliament is placing a special emphasis on their issues and on gender equality.
Besides, the conversation covered the topics of the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Commonwealth of Nations, the humanitarian and technical aid to the Small Island Developing States that are provided via the Commonwealth, and our country’s initiative to arrange a Climate Change Summit for the Small Island Developing Nations on the margins of the COP29.
There was also an exchange of opinions about other matters of shared interest.
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