On 13 March 2023, TURKPA delegation led by the Secretary General Mehmet Süreyya Er participated at the Second Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network (NAM PN) in Manama, Bahrain. The event took place under the themes “Parliamentary support to the national and global efforts on post-pandemic recovery” and “Exchange of views on further institutionalization of NAM” on the sidelines of the 146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The conference was chaired by the Chairperson of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and of the NAM PN Sahiba Gafarova. During the conference, the participants observed a minute of silence to commemorate those who lost their lives as result of the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.

In her welcoming speech, the Chairperson underscored that the NAM PN had been established in November 2021 at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. Head of Parliament recalled the objectives of the Network and informed on the work carried out since the First Conference of the Network. Mrs. Gafarova shared her strong belief that the NAM PN would become an important platform for the promotion of ideals and principles of the NAM, as well as of multilateralism, dialogue and inter-parliamentary cooperation.

Chairperson of the Shura Council of the Kingdom of Bahrain Ali bin Saleh al Saleh, the IPU President Duarte Pacheco and the IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong addressed the Conference. The event continued with the statements and exchange of views by heads of delegations of NAM PN member parliaments and partner international organizations.

Secretary General Mehmet Süreyya Er also delivered a speech during the Conference. Noting the essential role of parliamentary diplomacy in ensuring peace, security and sustainable development in the world, Secretary General expressed his belief that the international reputation and visibility of the Parliamentary Network would further increase with its active engagement in global parliamentary diplomacy. In this context, Secretary General underlined the signing of Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the NAM PN and TURKPA in February 2023.

The Manama Declaration was adopted as an outcome document of the Conference.