Acting Senate President Mircea Abrudean was on an official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan April 12 to 14, at the invitation of the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament (Milli Majlis) Sahiba Gafarova.
According to a Senate press release, during the official meeting, Mircea Abrudean and Sahiba Gafarova discussed boosting cooperation at parliamentary level, underlining the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening political, economic and cultural ties between the two countries, and highlighted the constant development of bilateral relations, as well as the potential for deepening them in multiple areas of common interest.
"I would like to convey, on behalf of the Senate of Romania, our deep appreciation for the strong and lasting friendship between Romania and the Republic of Azerbaijan. Our countries are united by a Strategic Partnership based on mutual respect and common values," declared Abrudean, as cited in the release.
The program of the visit included a wreath-laying ceremony at the "Victory" (Taq-Zafar) memorial monument and at the tomb of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, a gesture of respect and recognition of Azerbaijani history and national values.
Abrudean also met with Prime Minister Ali Asadov, with the talks aimed at strengthening economic relations, as Azerbaijan is Romania's most important trading partner in the South Caucasus region.
"The energy sector remains the central pillar of economic cooperation, with Romania showing a particular interest in the long-term supply of Azerbaijani gas and in the development of the 'green energy corridor'. Topics related to transport and connectivity were also discussed, as these areas were identified as carrying long-term strategic potential for both states," the release states.
A symbolic moment of the visit was the flower-laying ceremony at the monument to Romanian composer George Enescu in Baku, the only monument dedicated to a Romanian personality in the entire South Caucasus region, located in a park that bears his name.
"The visit confirms Romania's commitment to developing and strengthening relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan, capitalizing on opportunities for cooperation and constructive dialogue at parliamentary and governmental levels, as essential instruments in promoting joint interests and regional stability," the release notes.
The Romanian delegation also included senators Cristian Niculescu Tagarlas, Sebastian Cernic, Antal Lorant, Eugen Cristian Sipos, and deputy Adrian Solomon.
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