Arusha:A delegation from Azerbaijan, led by Milli Majlis Speaker Sahiba Gafarova, is visiting Arusha, Tanzania, for the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. During this visit, Speaker Gafarova attended a coordinating meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (PUOIC).

According to Azeri-Press news agency, Speaker Gafarova highlighted that the meeting was conducted under the chairmanship of the Azerbaijani Parliament. She noted that the 20th session of the PUOIC Conference, held in Baku in June, marked the beginning of Azerbaijan’s leadership of the Organization. This role underscores Azerbaijan's commitment to fostering unity and collaboration within the Islamic world.

As President of the 20th Conference of the PUOIC, Speaker Gafarova commended the collaborative work achieved, emphasizing the diverse national experiences and perspectives united under the Organisation. She stated that Azerbaijan's leadership is centered on principles of peace, justice, solidarity, tolerance, human dignity, and sustainable development.

Gafarova underscored the importance of regional perspectives in international parliamentary dialogue. She also recalled her recent meeting with the Permanent Representatives of the OIC Member States to the UN in New York, where they discussed how to better integrate the priorities of their countries into international decision-making frameworks.

The Speaker pointed out the significant human, cultural, and economic resources within the Islamic World, while acknowledging the challenges of conflict, displacement, poverty, climate change, terrorism, extremism, and Islamophobia faced by many societies. She asserted that overcoming these challenges requires enhanced practical cooperation and active participation in international institutions to shape global priorities and decisions.

The meeting saw other speakers and delegates from the Organisation’s Member States praising the effective leadership of the PUOIC under Azerbaijan's chairmanship.