Baku, June 12, 2025 – The Europe Today: On the sidelines of the 14th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA), held in Baku, Speaker of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova met with Ziya Öztürkler, Speaker of the Assembly of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), to discuss enhanced parliamentary cooperation and support for unity within the Turkic World.
Speaker Öztürkler expressed deep appreciation to Azerbaijan, particularly to President Ilham Aliyev, for the continued support extended to the TRNC. He emphasized that this solidarity is highly valued and contributes to the growing recognition of the TRNC within the Turkic community.
He also conveyed his satisfaction with TRNC’s participation in the 14th Plenary Session of TURKPA, affirming that inclusion in such high-level engagements is a significant step in reinforcing TRNC’s role within the Turkic World. Speaker Öztürkler commended the successful chairmanship of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis within TURKPA, noting its positive impact on strengthening the Assembly’s institutional capacity and international profile.
In turn, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova reiterated Azerbaijan’s strong commitment to fostering unity across the Turkic World. She underlined the value of TURKPA as a platform for deepening inter-parliamentary ties and noted that one of the central priorities of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy is the expansion of relations with Turkic states. In this regard, she referenced President Ilham Aliyev’s consistent advocacy for greater solidarity among Turkic nations.
Gafarova also highlighted the role of friendship groups within both parliaments in fostering continuous dialogue and collaboration. The sides acknowledged the significance of strengthening cooperation at the parliamentary level as a key element in consolidating unity among Turkic-speaking countries and entities.
Both speakers emphasized the importance of the 14th Plenary Session of TURKPA in shaping the organization’s strategic direction and addressing critical issues on its agenda. They also exchanged views on other matters of mutual interest, reaffirming their shared vision of closer coordination and mutual support within the framework of the Turkic community.
The meeting underscored the growing partnership between Azerbaijan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with a shared focus on parliamentary diplomacy as a pillar of broader regional cooperation.
