Baku, June 18, 2025 – The Europe Today: Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, held a meeting with President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, Natalia Kiselova, who is currently in Baku to attend the 65th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC).
Welcoming her Bulgarian counterpart, Speaker Gafarova expressed confidence that Kiselova’s first visit to Azerbaijan would further strengthen the friendly and strategic partnership between the two nations and deepen inter-parliamentary cooperation.
Gafarova noted that Azerbaijan currently holds the rotating chairmanship of PABSEC and that the leadership will be transferred to the Bulgarian Parliament during the current session. She underscored the vital role of PABSEC as a key platform for fostering inter-parliamentary dialogue and cooperation among member states.
Describing the bilateral relationship as one rooted in friendship and strategic partnership, Gafarova highlighted the significance of the reciprocal visits of President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and President Rumen Radev of Bulgaria in advancing political and economic cooperation. She also emphasized the role of parliamentary diplomacy and the contribution of inter-parliamentary friendship groups in enhancing both bilateral and multilateral engagements.
Discussions during the meeting also touched on increasing collaboration between parliamentary committees and bolstering coordination within international parliamentary organizations.
For her part, Natalia Kiselova praised the high-level relations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria, stating that her visit reflects the strength and depth of bilateral ties. She described PABSEC as an important mechanism for regional cooperation and expressed Bulgaria’s commitment to furthering its work within the organization during its upcoming term as chair.
Kiselova also expressed appreciation for the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s support in restoring the Trapezitsa Archaeological Museum Reserve in Veliko Tarnovo, an initiative warmly received by the Bulgarian public.
The two parliamentary leaders exchanged views on regional and global parliamentary cooperation, emphasizing the role of parliamentary diplomacy and the continued importance of active engagement through friendship groups and international platforms.
