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ISLAMABAD, Nov 12 (APP): Parliamentary leaders from Azerbaijan, Malaysia and the Maldives have underscored the need for stronger inter-parliamentary cooperation to address global challenges of conflict, insecurity, and climate change, urging legislatures to play a more proactive role in advancing peace, justice, and sustainable development.
Speaking at the session of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC) hosted by the Senate of Pakistan, they praised Islamabad’s initiative to bring together lawmakers from around the world under the theme “Peace, Security and Development.”
First Deputy Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan, Ali Ahmadov, said that the conference marked “a new chapter in parliamentary diplomacy,” allowing nations to respond collectively to global threats and humanitarian crises through dialogue and cooperation.
He expressed profound gratitude to the Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, for his “visionary leadership and warm hospitality,” while conveying greetings from the Speaker of the Milli Majlis, Sahiba Gafarova.
Reaffirming Azerbaijan’s commitment to justice and peace, Ahmadov said his country’s liberation of its occupied territories in 2020 under President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership was a testament to how “justice can prevail in the face of aggression.”
He lauded Pakistan’s unwavering support for Azerbaijan during both the First and Second Karabakh Wars, saying, “The people and the state of Pakistan stood with us from the very first day — a reflection of our unshakable brotherhood and shared belief in justice.”
Ahmadov reiterated Azerbaijan’s principled stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, backing its peaceful resolution in line with UN Security Council resolutions and international law. He also highlighted Baku’s commitment to regional peace through post-war reconstruction and the “Great Return” initiative in liberated areas.
Turning to global priorities, Ahmadov said Azerbaijan’s successful hosting of COP29 in Baku underscored its leadership in climate action and green development. He expressed gratitude for the participation of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the event.
Earlier, Deputy President of the Senate of Malaysia, Senator Nur Jazlan bin Mohamed, warned that the world was witnessing the “highest number of active conflicts since World War II” and facing a convergence of crises — from armed conflict and terrorism to climate change and cyber threats.
He urged parliaments to go beyond ratifying international accords and instead craft strong domestic legal frameworks to give them “real teeth.” Parliaments, he stressed, must hold governments accountable on matters of defense, budgets, and development priorities to ensure decisions reflect the people’s will.
Describing parliamentary diplomacy as a vital bridge-builder, he said legislators possess “a flexibility and legitimacy that traditional executive diplomacy often lacks.”
Malaysia, he said, believes in “activist neutrality” — a foreign policy that promotes partnerships and leadership on global issues while maintaining independence and respect for sovereignty. He called for deeper cooperation between ASEAN parliaments and Central Asian countries to strengthen regional and interregional ties.
Taking part in general debate, Speaker of the People’s Majlis of the Maldives, Abdul Raheem Abdulla, said that peace, security, and development were “inseparable realities that define our existence.”
He emphasized that global crises — from rising sea levels to social instability — were interconnected and required collective solutions through dialogue and parliamentary engagement.
“Lasting peace cannot exist without security, and true security cannot be achieved without sustainable development,” he said, stressing that parliaments must defend human dignity and justice in an increasingly volatile world.
The Maldivian Speaker reaffirmed his country’s commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international order, and praised Pakistan for its leadership in convening the ISC.
He assured that the Maldives would play an active role in shaping the Islamabad Declaration, building on the spirit of the Seoul Declaration adopted earlier this year.