Working visit of Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, the PABSEC Secretary General, to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Ankara, 11 March 2019

On 11 March 2019, Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, the PABSEC Secretary General, paid a working visit to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT) in Ankara.

During the meeting with Mr. Mustafa Sentop, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the PABSEC Secretary General conveyed warm congratulations on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the PABSEC President Mr. Ogtay Asadov on his election to this important position and wished him success in his future endeavours. The Secretary General informed Mr. Mustafa Sentop on the ongoing preparatory work of the PABSEC and its International Secretariat for the 53rd PABSEC General Assembly to be held in Baku on 19-21 June 2019 and extended the Invitation by the PABSEC President to that meeting. Obtaining observer status for the PABSEC to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic-Speaking Countries (TURKPA) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PAUFM), in which Turkey presently holds the Presidencies, was among the issues discussed. Mr. Mustafa Sentop highly appreciated the work of the PABSEC International Secretariat and expressed full support for the activities of the PABSEC. He assured that the Turkish Parliament and the PABSEC Turkish Delegation will further contribute to the activities of the Assembly.

On the same day, a meeting took place with Mr. Ismail Kahraman, the former Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and former PABSEC President. The Secretary General informed Mr. Ismail Kahraman on the current work of the PABSEC and the work of the Assembly on the international arena and once again expressed his gratitude for the contribution and support to the PABSEC during his Presidency.

A meeting was also held with Mr. Yunus Kılıç, Chairman of the GNAT Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs, upon his request. The multilateral cooperation within the BSEC framework and the PABSEC activities were discussed. The Chairman of the Committee expressed interest in discussing the problem of avoiding double taxation at a PABSEC committee meeting.

During the meeting with Mr. Cemal Ozturk, the PABSEC Vice-President and the Head of the PABSEC Turkish Delegation the issues regarding the preparation of the spring meetings of the PABSEC committees, as well as the 53rd PABSEC General Assembly to be held in Baku on 19-21 June 2019 were discussed.

Mr. Fuat Kucukaydin, the PABSEC Deputy Secretary General in Charge of Administrative and Financial Matters was also present at the meetings.