Chair of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova spoke at the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s First Global Parliamentary Summit on Counter-Terrorism held in Austria’s capital city of Vienna on 9 September.

In her speech, Madame Speaker emphasised that, following the tragic events of 9/11, the states of the world had put in their paramount agenda the prevention and combatting of terrorism as the cause of the most serious peace and security problem and as a gross violation of the fundamental human rights. Madame Speaker stressed that, whilst countering terrorism as a security threat, at the present stage the international community should take into account the rights of victims of terrorism recognised by the international documents passed in the UN format and should consider such rights as one of the key elements of efficient counter-terrorism measures. It was said that the states should provide victims of terrorism and their families impacted by this crime with adequate support.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova remarked that parliaments, which are playing a pivotal role in establishing effective mechanisms to provide victims of terrorist with appropriate support, ought to elaborate inclusive legislation which establishes co-operation between governments, civil society organisations, media and private sector. It was also pointed out that laws and a policy concerned with supporting victims of terrorism had to reflect the principles and commitments enshrined in the UN Strategy on Global Counter-Terrorism and Resolution on Enhancement of International Co-operation to Assist Victims of Terrorism.

Considering the fact that no country is insured against the threat of terrorism, relevant legal and institutional measures on supporting victims of terrorism should be adopted in all the states, according to Sahiba Gafarova who proceeded to emphasise that Azerbaijan had been consistent in its support to combatting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the linkage between terrorism, violent separatism and extremism, whilst opposing the phenomenon of overseas terrorist militants and finance of terrorism. Last year’s 44-day war clearly demonstrated the linkage between the violent separatism, terrorism and extremism that was actively used by Armenia against Azerbaijan.

Considering the special circumstances surrounding the victims of the acts of terror unleashed against Azerbaijan, victims of terror are provided with extensive and continuous governmental and non-governmental assistance set to address their needs in our country. This policy of Azerbaijan is focused on rapid normalisation of the lives of the victims of terrorism and their families, Sahiba Gafarova said.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis