The Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has lauded the foresight and outstanding leadership of the late founding revolutionary National Leader of a free Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, for consolidating the oil and gas resource strategies as part of Azerbaijan's economic transformation.
The Speaker, who is leading a South African parliamentary delegation to a special sitting of the country's Milli Majlis (national legislature) in Baku, Azerbaijan, said through Aliyev's foresight, South Africa can today benefit a great deal, as the country faces the biggest power crisis and a threat to its economy.
"Although it must be acknowledged that Azerbaijan has already established partnerships with several African countries, including South Africa, to promote energy cooperation and technology transfer, we believe that the situation in South Africa calls for extraordinary urgency in terms of infrastructure rollout.
“We are calling for both governments to leverage the current cooperation initiatives to implement an urgent rescue plan with specific targets to enhance South Africa's generation capacity in the short to medium term," Mapisa-Nqakula said.
Mapisa-Nqakula said through efforts to support African nations in providing energy resources, supporting sustainable energy development, and promoting energy cooperation, Azerbaijan can improve access to affordable and reliable energy in the continent and in South Africa specifically.
“Through cooperation efforts between the Parliament of South Africa and the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, this matter can be placed on the agenda of the governments of both countries,” the Speaker said.
The meeting celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev. Aliyev, who led the people of Azerbaijan from October 1993 to October 2003, and is credited for ably leading the State and the nation of Azerbaijan through hard and strict tests of history.
Mapisa-Nqakula expressed gratitude for the invitation to join the important commemorative session, while extending appreciation to the people of Azerbaijan for celebrating Aliyev’s life and accomplishments.
She said that Aliyev, just like South Africa's own Nelson Mandela, earned global recognition for his pivotal role in leading his nation towards freedom and independence.
“Like Nelson Mandela in our country, the history and human triumph of the people of Azerbaijan cannot be written or be fully complete without the acknowledgment of the immense role played by Heydar Aliyev, and the other compatriots of his generation.
“Like our beloved Madiba, he has earned global iconic recognition as a leader who led his people through a complex historical and political journey towards the attainment of freedom and independence for his country,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.
Today, she said, we celebrate him, “not only as a former President of this country but recognise his legacy as the founder of the independent state of Azerbaijan.
“Today, the legacy left by Heydar Aliyev, that of a modern stable democracy with sustained economic development, can now also be used to benefit other nations of the world through various cooperation initiatives.
“As the world experiences turmoil and war, many nations have been affected negatively with the resultant food insecurity, rising cost of living, and chronic energy shortages," the Speaker said.
She also commended Azerbaijan for its work towards the establishment of the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). She noted that Azerbaijan played an important role when it hosted the NAM Heads of States Summit in 2019 in paving the way for the establishment of the Network, which it subsequently led diligently as a Chair.
"On behalf of all South Africans, we celebrate with you and your people the declaration of this year, 2023, as 'the year of Heydar Aliyev'. Accordingly, we commemorate with you the 100th anniversary of his birth," the Speaker said.
The Speaker is leading a delegation which includes National Council of Provinces Deputy Chairperson, Sylvia Lucas and United Democratic Front Member of Parliament, Nqabayomzi Kwankwa. – SAnews.gov.za
