Skopje, 17 June 2025 (MIA) - Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan on June 17-19, met Tuesday with Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova. 

The Macedonian delegation led by Gashi, which was welcomed with high honors, includes MP Petar Markov, chair of the parliamentary group for cooperation with Azerbaijan, MP Imrlije Saliu Fetai and Parliament general secretary Marina Dimovska, the Parliament said in a press release. 

Gashi thanked Gafarova for the hospitality, noting that the visit is an opportunity to jointly lay the foundations for deepening further cooperation between the two parliaments, as well as between the two countries.

He expressed satisfaction that the official visit is taking place in the year marking 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, adding that despite the fact that North Macedonia and Azerbaijan come from different regions, opportunities exist to promote mutual cooperation in all areas, especially in the areas of energy, economy and tourism.

Gashi is the first Speaker of the Macedonian Parliament to pay an official visit to the National Assembly of Azerbaijan. He noted that in this way, together with Speaker Gafarova, they are opening a new chapter in the relations between the two parliaments.

Gafarova pointed out that in addition to the joint commitment to deepen cooperation at the parliamentary level, it is necessary to jointly invest in promoting cooperation at the multilateral level, through the parliamentary organizations to which the parliaments of the two countries are members.

Interlocutors highlighted the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation, through sharing experiences from the parliamentary work and applying efficient experiences from different areas. Participants in the meeting agreed to motivate the cooperation groups between the two countries so as to strengthen and intensify mutual communication, noting that cooperation should also be encouraged between parliamentary committees.

In addition, Gashi signed the guest book at the National Assembly of Azerbaijan, noting that bridges of friendship should be built through parliamentary diplomacy.

The delegation was also briefed on the history, structure and functions of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan, reads the press release. 

Photo: Parliament