The Third Trilateral Meeting of the Speakers of Parliament Azerbaijan-Pakistan-Türkiye has been concluded with the adoption of the Islamabad Declaration.

Speaking at the concluding session of the trilateral meeting, Chairman of the National Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Sardar Ayaz Sadiq noted that the event had afforded sound opportunities for a detailed discussion of a number of current issues amongst the three brotherly countries. He pointed up the importance of this platform and its significant role in the further expansion of the ties between the Parliaments of the three friendly and fraternal countries.

In her address at the session, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova mentioned the Trilateral Meeting having reviewed the processes taking place in the region and in the international community as a whole, as well as the relations between our countries, and an exchange of views having also place on matters of common interest.

As the Speaker of the Milli Majlis said, the relations amongst our countries, be that the Azerbaijan-Türkiye and Azerbaijan-Pakistan or the Türkiye-Pakistan relations, inclusive of mutual support, unity and solidarity, are at the highest level and, according to her, encompass all the facets of the interstate relations whilst growing stronger and deeper with each passing day. The most remarkable trait of the relations is that all the issues amongst our countries are viewed specifically through the prism of friendship and brotherhood.

Recalling in her speech the ideas that were voiced at the meeting of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif in the Chinese city of Tianjin on 1 September of this year, Sahiba Gafarova said that the Head of State of Azerbaijan, whilst congratulating Pakistan on its victory over India, put forth the following thought: ‘India is attempting to retaliate against Azerbaijan in international organisations in response to the support rendered by our country to Pakistan. This has no significance for our country as brotherly ties are above all else for Azerbaijan.’

She also let it be known that the relations between our brotherly countries have already been elevated to the level of a trilateral strategic partnership thanks to the resolve shown by our countries' leaders Ilham Aliyev, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Trilateral Summit in Lachin this May. According to her, if we look at the world's geopolitical map, we in any case could hardly find three other countries with ties as close as these. Those trilateral relations between Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Türkiye truly bear the character of a strategic partnership.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova shared with the participants of the event her thoughts as to the current state and prospects of the trilateral co-operation between our Parliaments as well as about ways to further strengthen this mechanism and turn it into one of the effective instruments of parliamentary diplomacy in keeping with the relations between our brotherly countries.

Broaching the topics discussed amongst the members of Parliament, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis said that the issue of protecting territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as of solidarity in the face of external threats is one which best demonstrates the brotherhood and mutual support between our countries, and she stated that she finds the discussions in this direction beneficial.

The Speaker also underlined the importance of the topic of climate change and sustainability, highlighting then the work undertaken by our country in this sphere, including the fraternal support Azerbaijan provided following the earthquake in brotherly Türkiye and during the floods in brotherly Pakistan. She, on the other hand, specially noted Azerbaijan's achievements within the COP29 framework. Considering the discussions held by our Members of Parliament on these matters to be beneficial, she stressed the necessity of a broader coverage of the issue of combating climate change and natural disasters within the framework of future co-operation.

Besides, the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament remarked that the Islamabad Declaration, adopted following the Third Trilateral Meeting, encompasses all the aspects of the fraternal relations between our countries and underscores the importance of the joint activity of our parliaments, whilst also defining new opportunities to expand our co-operation further. According to her, the Declaration also reflects our shared vision on regional and global processes.

In conclusion, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis reiterated that this effective format of co-operation between our Parliaments will be continued successfully through our joint efforts. This co-operation brings our peoples even closer, serves the interests of our countries and contributes to the further strengthening of the relations of friendship and brotherhood, unity and solidarity between them.

Speaking subsequently, Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Numan Kurtulmuş, too, stressed the importance of utilising the opportunities presented by parliamentary diplomacy for the further deepening of ties between our countries and peoples. He noted the successful conclusion of the Third Trilateral Meeting of the Speakers of Parliament Azerbaijan-Pakistan-Türkiye and emphasised that its outcomes are highly beneficial for future co-operation.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis