PHOTO: Hurriyet Daily News.
Sureyya Sadi Bilgic Deputy Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the delegation from the Turkish parliament met Azerbaijan's parliament speaker Oktay Asadov in Baku, Azerbaijan on June 11, 2019.
Deputy Speaker Bilgiç said the excellent relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan is vital for the stability of the region, and that Turkey and Azerbaijan are determined to strengthen cooperation in joint energy and transport projects.
Regarding the Karabakh conflict, he said Turkey wants resolution of the Karabakh conflict within Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Karabakh is a disputed territory between Azerbaijan and Armenia which broke away from Azerbaijan in 1991 with military support from neighboring Armenia, and a peace process has yet to be implemented. Three U.N. Security Council resolutions and two U.N. General Assembly resolutions refer to Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe refers to the region as being occupied by Armenian forces. The Armenian occupation led to the closing of the frontier with Turkey, which sides with Baku in the dispute.
Speaking at the meeting, Azerbaijani Speaker Asadov stressed that the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan is at its highest level. The trade volume between Turkey and Azerbaijan climbed to more than $3.7 billion in 2018 and the two countries are aiming to take the trade volume to $10 million, Asadov said during the meeting. Azerbaijan's investment in Turkey will reach $20 billion in 2020, he added. He also said that Turkey has been struggling with some internal and external threats and they believe Turkey will overcome all the challenges.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-azerbaijan-determined-to-boost-cooperation-144120
PHOTO: Sahara Reporters. Nigerian Speaker of House of Representatives, Congressman Femi Gbajabiamila.
Congressman Femi Gbajabiamila of Nigeria’s governing All Progressives Congress (APC) party on June 11 emerged as the country’s new Speaker of the House of Representatives when the 9th National Assembly was inaugurated in the capital Abuja.
Gbajabiamila, 56, representing the southwestern state of Lagos, was the favored candidate of the Nigerian ruling party for the House leadership. The former majority leader of the 8th National Assembly that was dissolved Thursday emerged through an election to lead the lower chamber of the Nigerian bi-cameral legislature. Ahmad Idris Wase of APC was also elected as Deputy Speaker.
In his inauguration speech, Speaker Gbajabiamila told Nigerians not to expect a rubber-stamped lower chamber and promised to hold the office in trust for all. He also said there would be reform in the House, but that it would be gradual. “I equally commit myself to always observe the tenets of justice, equity and fairness in my dealings with my colleagues, and to apply the ideals of transparency, probity and accountability in my management of the affairs of this honorable house,” said Speaker Gbajabiamila outlining his vision for the House.
In the Senate, Senators picked Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan of APC Party to replace former Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki. Ovie Omo-Agege of APC was elected Deputy Senate President.
The inauguration of the 9th National Assembly, comprising 109 Senators and 360 House of Representative members representing every state and region of the country, took place amid tight security.
All top leadership of the legislature has been filled with ruling APC party members. Analysts project that it should ease the working relationship between the National Assembly and the executive.
https://africa.cgtn.com/2019/06/12/nigeria-elects-new-parliament-speaker/
https://www.africanews.com/2019/06/12/security-high-as-nigeria-lawmakers-elect-new-leaders/
BY MSEAP Cyber Secretariat (mseap@assembly.go.kr) |
