Black Sea group calls for unity for regional peace

By Nilay Kar Onum

ISTANBUL (AA) - The 25th anniversary of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC): Summit of the Speakers kicked off in Istanbul with calls from member countries for regional peace.

“We have to be together to bring peace and reconciliation to the region,” PABSEC Secretary General Asaf Hajiyev said during the opening of the summit, where Anadolu Agency is serving as the official photo provider.

The summit started with a session on “the Role of the Parliaments in Shaping the Future of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation".

“Black Sea region has always played an important role in world politics because it is considered as a bridge between Asia and Europe. It is a crossroad of the main transportation routes like Silk Way from East to West," Hajiyev said.

“Black Sea should not divide us. Black Sea should unite us,” he added.

“We hope the cooperation among member countries will further strengthen. We need to encourage dialogue,” Gramoz Ruci, PABSEC president and speaker of the parliament of the Republic of Albania, said.

“We are a regional organization but we have global responsibilities,” Ruci added.

The summit is attended by the speakers of Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Turkey, Deputy Speaker of the State Duma of the Russia Federation and Heads of the PABSEC National Delegations of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.