site.btaParliament Leaders of Bulgaria, Azerbaijan Discuss Parliamentary Cooperation

Parliamentary ties and cooperation in the areas of energy, transport connectivity, education, culture, tourism, and the environment featured on the agenda of talks in Baku between Bulgarian National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova and the Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova, the press office of the Bulgarian Parliament said on Tuesday.

Kiselova noted that Bulgaria values parliamentary cooperation as a key constructive element in the development of relations between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan. This interaction strengthens the strategic dialogue and contributes to the enhancement of bilateral ties. Maintaining high-level parliamentary contacts—including those between standing committees and friendship groups—plays an important role in the overall development of Bulgarian-Azerbaijani relations and presents untapped potential that should be utilized in the future, she added.

The Chair of the National Assembly emphasized that Bulgaria and Azerbaijan enjoy excellent bilateral relations, elevated to the level of a strategic partnership. "There are no open or unresolved issues between us," Kiselova stated. According to her, the strong bilateral ties are accompanied by an intensive political dialogue, as demonstrated by numerous bilateral visits, meetings, and high-level exchanges in recent years.

The central focus of bilateral cooperation lies in energy, energy diversification, and connectivity between Europe and Asia, said Kiselova.

Important projects have already been implemented in these areas,” Kiselova noted. “We will continue working to ensure Bulgaria’s role as a key regional hub for the distribution of natural gas from Azerbaijan and other sources,” she stated, adding that both countries stand to gain significantly from advancing this collaboration.

She also highlighted the importance of improving connectivity between Europe and Asia, particularly the progress on the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, also known as the “Middle Corridor,” as a field with great potential for bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting, both sides affirmed their shared commitment to deepening fruitful ties in education, culture, and tourism—key areas for fostering closer people-to-people relations. Environmental protection and mutual investment were also recognized by the two parliamentary leaders as vital topics for future cooperation.

The Chair of the Bulgarian National Assembly extended an official invitation to her Azerbaijani counterpart, Sahiba Gafarova, to visit Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian parliamentary delegation, led by Kiselova, is currently in Baku to participate in the 65th General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC). The delegation includes Petar Kanev, Head of the Bulgarian delegation to PABSEC, and Kiril Dobrev, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Communications and member of the Bulgaria–Azerbaijan Friendship Group.

Earlier in the day, the Bulgarian delegation paid tribute by laying flowers at the Victory Monument and at the grave of Azerbaijan’s national leader Heydar Aliyev.