20 may 2008
Bulgaria is ready to share its experience and assist Azerbaijan on its way towards integration in the European and Euro Atlantic structures, declared National assembly chairman Georgi Pirinski at the meeting with the speaker of Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan Oktai Assadov. This is the first visit paid by a speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament to Bulgaria. Assadov is heading a parliamentary delegation for a 2 day visit.

At the meeting Georgi Pirinski noticed that Bulgaria has gathered a rich experience on its way towards and after becoming a full fledged member of the European Union. Oktai Assadov expressed his belief that with the help of Bulgaria ,Azerbaijan will be able to adopt the European standards more easily.

National assembly chairman emphasized the importance of the regional economic cooperation, and its parliamentary dimension in the Black Sea region in particular, as well as the South-East European Cooperation Process. In his words European funds could be used to improve the administrative capabilities and for infrastructure development projects in the region as well as the political tools of the European Union for good neighborly relations.

In his statement for the media Georgi Pirinski stressed that the visit of the Milli Mejlis’ speaker is a continuation of the intensive interaction between the two parliaments on the level of friendship groups and committees.

The exchange will continue with the assistance on behalf of Bulgaria for the integration of Azerbaijan in the European Union and NATO, he added. Important contacts in the economic and political areas on bilateral level will be the forthcoming Third session of the Intergovernmental Committee in Plovdiv next fall and the First session of the Working group on Energy matters that is to take place in Baku.

The head of the Azerbaijani parliament drew the attention on new forms of cooperation, such as the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development and stressed the importance of attracting friends to this initiative from the European Union. Both leaders agreed on the importance of developing the parliamentary cooperation in South East Europe and the Caspian region in the future.

Oktai Assadov announced that this year the Milli Mejlis will celebrate the 90th Anniversary of its first session and that over 30 parliamentary delegations are expected to join the festivities in June. He extended an invitation to the chairman of the Bulgarian assembly to visit Azerbaijan with a delegation on this occasion.

The Speaker of the assembly of the Azerbaijan Republic inscribed his name in the Bulgarian assembly’s Book of Guests. Later the guests were received by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Georgi Purvanov.

The program foresees meetings with the Bulgaria - Azerbaijan friendship group chairman, Remzi Osman and the Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy Petar Dimitrov. The delegation is to visit Plovdiv on May 21th and meet the Mayor Slavcho Atanassov.