The PABSEC Participation in the 4th Coordination Meeting of Parliamentary Assemblies and the 2nd Parliamentary Policy Dialogue, Vienna, 4-5 October 2023

On 4-5 October 2023, Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, PABSEC Secretary General, took part in the 4th Coordination Meeting of Parliamentary Assemblies and the 2nd Parliamentary Policy Dialogue, which was organized in Vienna by the UNOCT Programme Office on Parliamentary Engagement with the support of the Shura Council of the State of Qatar, and in collaboration with the current Presidency of the Coordination Mechanism – OSCE PA and the Austrian Parliament.

The event was attended by the Arab Parliament, Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (Arab IPU), African Parliamentary Union (APU), Andean Parliament, Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE PA), Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC), Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Member States
(PUIC), Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA) and others.

The aim of the Fourth Coordination Meeting was to review on-going regional terrorism and violent extremisms trends; review the pertinent initiatives implemented by parliamentary assemblies, including in cooperation with UNOCT, share workplans for the second half of 2023 and explore potential joint initiatives in 2024 and hold thematic discussions.

The objectives of the Second Parliamentary Policy Dialogue were to consider and discuss the main global and regional issues and threats, associated with the spread of violent extremism conducive to terrorism and its implication for youth; review and discuss the relevant international legal framework and recommendations; discuss the role of parliamentary assemblies and national parliaments in engaging youth in antiterrorism efforts in line with the international standards and recommendations. 

In his speech, Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, PABSEC Secretary General, emphasized the need to eliminate the root causes of terrorism and double standards in the fight against terrorism. He noted the importance of combating corruption since it helps terrorists to acquire modern weapons. Mr. Hajiyev emphasized the importance of the principle of inviolability of state borders, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of states. He also emphasized that terrorism cannot be a problem of only one state or region and that it is necessary to unite the efforts of the international community to effectively combat this evil.