Azerbaijan has assumed the chairmanship of the Council of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking Countries (TURKPA) from Turkey as the council held its 9th meeting at the Milli Majlis in Baku.

The Azerbaijani Parliament took over the TURKPA Chairmanship from the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

Addressing the event, Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Mustafa Sentop said that Turkic peoples share a common history. Recalling with regret that 20 percent of the Azerbaijani territories are still under Armenian occupation, Mustafa Sentop noted that Turkey always stands by Azerbaijan on this issue.

Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ogtay Asadov thanked the Turkish Grand Assembly for fruitful activity during past period. He noted that the TURKPA became an influential organization, adding that development of the international relations will continue to be in the focus of the organization. Ogtay Asadov expressed his confidence that during Azerbaijani Parliament’s TURKPA Chairmanship period the organization will successfully implement all the tasks ahead.