Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan and Malaysia discussed ways of developing cooperation between the two countries` legislative bodies at a meeting held at Azerbaijan’s Parliament on April 12.

The meeting was held within the Baku visit of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Malaysian Parliament, Seri Ronald Kiandee.

Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ogtay Asadov, addressing the meeting, expressed confidence that the visit of the Malaysian official would give a new push to the development of interparliamentary ties.

He hailed the establishment of the friendship group with Azerbaijan at the Malaysian Parliament, adding “the group will play a vital role in developing relations”.

Asadov underlined the significance of the high-level reciprocal visits and meetings in expanding cooperation. He described the political relations between the two countries as excellent, expressing Azerbaijan’s keenness to develop relations with Malaysia in the field of information-communication technologies.

Touching upon the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Khojaly genocide, he said that more than 20 U.S. states recognized the massacre, and called on the Malaysian Parliament to react to the issue.

Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war.

Khojaly, the second largest town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, came under intense fire from the towns of Khankendi and Askeran already occupied by the Armenian armed forces in 1992.

As many as 613 civilians mostly women and children were killed in the massacre, and a total of 1,000 people were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent. Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 of them remains unknown.

Kiandee, for his part, hailed Malaysian-Azerbaijani ties, describing them as “fraternal”. He underlined that Azerbaijan had a strategically favorable location.

Later, the Malaysian official met with members of the Azerbaijan-Malaysia interparliamentary friendship group.

Head of the group Mahir Aslanov stressed the importance of the visit in terms of developing the bilateral relations. He noted that Malaysia was an important partner and friend of Azerbaijan.

He also spoke of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and noted that despite a number of international organizations adopted resolutions on the settlement of the dispute, the problem has not yet been solved due to Armenia’s non-constructive position.

Kiandee said Malaysia has always backed Azerbaijan’s position on the problem, and stressed that his country would continue supporting Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

During the Baku visit, the Malaysian official earlier was received by President Ilham Aliyev, who said there are ample opportunities for developing cooperation between the two countries in investment making, high technology, tourism and other fields.

Malaysia enjoys close and friendly relations with Azerbaijan since diplomatic relations were established in 1993. Azerbaijan established its diplomatic mission in Malaysia in 2007, while Malaysia established its Embassy in Baku in 2014.

Last year, total trade turnover between the two states amounted to $89 million.

Malaysian National Oil Company - Petronas owns a 15.5 percent stake in the Shah Deniz production sharing agreement operated by a consortium of companies, 15.5 percent share in the South Caucasus Pipeline Company (SCPC), 15.5 percent share in the SCPC holding company, and 12.4 percent share in the Azerbaijan Gas Supply Company.

Earlier in March, Azerbaijan and Malaysia opened direct cargo flight service, which envisages the mutual use of the aircraft fleet and the expansion of aviation route networks in different regions of the world.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz