After the break, the General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation (PABSEC) resumed its work with a series of sessions, APA reports.
During the first session, several procedural issues were addressed, including organizational and financial matters, with relevant decisions adopted.
The second session focused on the theme Enhancing Connectivity and Mobility in the PABSEC Region through Modern and Sustainable Transport Infrastructure.” Heads of national delegations delivered speeches and shared their views on the topic.
The third session included meetings of the Committee on Legal and Political Affairs and the Committee on Social and Humanitarian Policy.
In the fourth session, the date, venue, and agenda for PABSEC’s autumn session in 2025 were determined.
With this, the 65th General Assembly of PABSEC held in Baku concluded its work.
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11:30
The 65th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation (PABSEC) has started in Baku, APA reports.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament), Sahiba Gafarova, stated that Azerbaijan always attaches great importance to dialogue and peaceful coexistence, and today, Baku is becoming a place where ideas are formed and solutions are jointly sought.
Sahiba Gafarova noted that as a result of President Ilham Aliyev’s farsighted policy, Azerbaijan has become a dynamically developing country that is respected: “We are proud that today Azerbaijan supports peace and cooperation. After the Second World War, Azerbaijan is the only country that has restored its territories that were under occupation.”
The Speaker of the Milli Majlis emphasized that the role of PABSEC in the region is growing: “We are united by the desire for peace and development. Dialogue must turn into policy. This Assembly must and can become a turning point. We must create effective and transparent mechanisms, and build cooperation that responds not only to today’s but also to future challenges. Digitalization and the green economy must be at the forefront of our agenda. We must not forget culture either. Culture is a language that can be understood by everyone, regardless of borders and perspectives. A more important topic is artificial intelligence. We must jointly promote collaborative research and ensure access to artificial intelligence for the countries of the region. The Assembly must become a pillar of democracy in the region. Without these, it is not possible to gain the trust of citizens. Parliamentary institutions must demonstrate that they defend the interests of the people.”
Sahiba Gafarova noted that the energy projects proposed by Azerbaijan today play an important role in the energy security of the region and beyond: “Projects related to the establishment of the Caspian–Black Sea–Europe green energy corridor will contribute to the green energy agenda of our countries.”
At the session, the chairmanship of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation (PABSEC) was transferred from the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Bulgaria.
President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, Natalia Kiselova, stated that Bulgaria will assume the chairmanship from July 1 for the next six months: “During our chairmanship, we are determined to contribute to regional cooperation by focusing on crisis management and international collaboration. Bulgaria will seek to implement purposeful steps aimed at international development. I invite all members to the autumn session that will be held this November in Sofia.”
President of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, Afrim Gashi, noted that North Macedonia, remaining committed to the principles of European integration, sees the development of PABSEC as a fundamental priority.
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11:15
The chairmanship of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation (PABSEC) in Baku has been transferred from the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Bulgaria, said the Speaker of the Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova, at the 65th Plenary Session of PABSEC held in the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament), APA reports.
Sahiba Gafarova handed over the chairmanship gavel to the Bulgarian side.
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10:17
The 65th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation (PABSEC) is being held in Baku, APA reports.
During the session, the chairmanship of PABSEC will be transferred from the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Bulgaria.