Belarus highly appreciates its relations with Azerbaijan
Belarusian MPs have met with the Azerbaijani Ambassador at the House of Representatives to discuss plans for bilateral co-operation
At the beginning of the meeting, the Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, Vladimir Andreichenko, warmly welcomed the representatives of Azerbaijan, “We highly appreciate the relations that Belarus has established with Azerbaijan. Our presidents play an exceptional role in this. Moreover, we always hear the opinion of Azerbaijani deputies in international organisations.”
Mr. Andreichenko expressed confidence that the pandemic would eventually end and it would then become easier to organise personal meetings. Nevertheless, despite the global epidemiological situation, the Belarusian-Azerbaijani trade turnover has increased by 30 percent, and time has come to think of creating a roadmap for interaction between the two states’ parliamentarians.
In turn, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Belarus, Ulvi Bakhshaliyev, thanked the Belarusian deputies for the meeting, “You have very clearly and thoroughly expressed the relations between our countries – which are at a high level. A high level of trust between our presidents contributes to expansion and further strengthening of relations.” Despite the epidemiological situation, he believes it’s necessary to expand visits and organise meetings, as well as open new areas for further development of liaisons.
Lilia Ananich, the Deputy Chairperson of the Standing Commission on Human Rights, National Relations and Mass Media at the House of Representatives and the deputy head of the working group on co-operation with the Parliament of Azerbaijan, stated that inter-parliamentary co-operation between Belarus and Azerbaijan has always developed dynamically, “Working groups of our parliaments contribute to liaisons. It is important to promote the political processes that are actively developing and we enjoy complete mutual understanding at the level of heads of state and governments. Parliamentary co-operation should also bear economic fruits."
According to Ms. Ananich, it is certainly important to preserve our relations on international platforms. “Belarus traditionally supports Azerbaijan in all initiatives. The working group is an effective tool for parliamentary, humanitarian co-operation, development of human contacts and interaction on all parliamentary venues. We aim to activate this work and would like the two working groups to meet in person either in Minsk or in Azerbaijan. We will discuss this issue,” she added.
"I’m convinced that rich experience of co-operation – in the format of participation of our parliamentary missions in election observation and in development of economic contacts – will be useful at a new stage of co-operation between Belarus and Azerbaijan," Ms. Ananich concluded.
