BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 16, Milli Majlis (National Assembly) Speaker Sahiba Gafarova met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, who is visiting Azerbaijan, the Parliament’s Press and Public Relations Department reported.
During the meeting, Speaker Gafarova emphasized the strong friendship and cooperation based on mutual respect between Azerbaijan and Palestine. She highlighted shared religious, moral, and family values as well as the existing close ties between the peoples of both countries. Gafarova expressed confidence that Prime Minister Mustafa’s visit will further strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation.
The Speaker reiterated Azerbaijan’s principled stance on the Palestinian issue, consistently followed in international organizations. She noted that the opening of Azerbaijan’s Representation Office in Ramallah in 2023 was a significant step in deepening bilateral relations, recalling that the Milli Majlis had unanimously passed the law establishing the office in November 2022.
Gafarova also highlighted the importance of inter-parliamentary collaboration, noting that the Azerbaijani Parliament works effectively with the Palestinian National Council both bilaterally and through international parliamentary platforms such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, PUIC, the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, and the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network. She emphasized Azerbaijan’s active support for the Palestinian issue in international forums.
Humanitarian cooperation, particularly in education and culture, was also discussed. Speaker Gafarova praised the education of Palestinian students in Azerbaijan and highlighted the opportunities provided through the “Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant” program.
Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa thanked the Azerbaijani government, people, and Parliament for consistent political, diplomatic, and humanitarian support for Palestine. He noted the importance of his meetings with the President and Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and emphasized that the Azerbaijani leadership’s support would never be forgotten by the Palestinian people. Mustafa underscored his country’s commitment to a just and lasting peace based on the “two-state” principle and praised Azerbaijan’s contributions to international peace initiatives.
The two leaders also discussed potential cooperation in agriculture, education, and humanitarian projects, including school construction and other joint initiatives in Palestine with Azerbaijan’s support. Prime Minister Mustafa stressed the importance of expanding inter-parliamentary collaboration across various sectors. He concluded by expressing admiration for Azerbaijan’s rapid development and construction efforts and wished the Azerbaijani people peace, prosperity, and success.
