Dear colleagues, partners, and visitors!

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It is my great pleasure to greet each of you.

I would like to announce that this newly launched website is a valuable database containing extensive information on the activities of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network. The website will present comprehensive information on the history of the establishment of the parliamentary dimension of the world's second largest organization after the UN, in particular, its founding meeting and the first conference held in Baku, its role in international cooperation through parliamentary diplomacy, the topics on our agenda, our priorities and many other issues.

As is known, at the 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Baku on October 25–26, 2019, the heads of state and government decided to expand and deepen the mutual activity and cooperation between the parliamentarians of the Non-Aligned Movement member states. On the initiative of His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in November 2021 we held the inaugural meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network in Madrid within the framework of the 143rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and laid the foundation of the organization. On June 30 of this year, Baku hosted the first conference of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network with the presence of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Parliaments of more than 40 countries that are members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and 8 international parliamentary organizations were represented at the Baku Conference. Within the framework of the conference, the Statute on Working Modalities of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network, the "Baku Declaration" were adopted, the official logo and flag of the Network were approved, and the Chairperson and Vice-chairpersons of the Network were elected. I believe that the Baku Conference took its place in the history of the organization and parliamentary diplomacy as an important event that ensured the institutionalization of the Parliamentary Network. We invite the parliaments of all the member states of the Non-Aligned Movement to actively participate in the activities and development of this new body.

Indeed, such a high-level representation at the conference, as well as the stance demonstrated by the delegations of the member states, are a clear manifestation of the importance attached to parliamentary cooperation and has created great confidence in each of us regarding the future activity of the Parliamentary Network. We believe that the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network will contribute to the development of inter-parliamentary cooperation on a global scale.

Today, our world is experiencing a period of great transformation, accompanied by pandemics, armed conflicts, climate change and many other challenges that threaten the architecture of global security. In such a situation, the relevance of the creative ideals and the important role of the Non-Aligned Movement in the protection of peace, security and sustainable development get further augmented. At the same time, parliamentary diplomacy, particularly, the preservation of multilateralism and international cooperation, becomes more important than ever. We believe that parliamentarians of the Non-Aligned Movement countries will continue to play an active role in promoting the principles of the Movement. Undoubtedly the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network will contribute to the wider dissemination and development of the values ​​of our Movement in member countries. In this sense, it is of great importance to create and support fundamental conditions for the objective and prompt functioning of the information resources that inform the public about activities of the Parliamentary Network.

I wish success to our valuable colleagues and partners in their endeavours for the sake of common goals and would like to express our belief that the Secretariat of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network will ensure effective coordination between the legislative bodies of the member states of the organization and will contribute to the future undertakings of our Network.

 

Sincerely,

 

Sahiba Gafarova

Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan,

Chairperson of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network