Turkey takes on Black Sea group chairmanship

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Serbia handed over the six-month rotating chairmanship of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) to Turkey on Thursday.

At the end of 48th Plenary Session of PABSEC in Belgrade, Serbia's Parliamentary President Maja Gojkovic handed over to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

Turkish lawmaker Omer Serdar accepted the role on behalf of parliament.

Serdar thanked Gojkovic and other delegates for the support given to Turkey after the attempted military coup on July 15.

"It is meaningful and valuable to us that the PABSEC has condemned the coup attempt as one body," Serdar said.

Seventy-six lawmakers representing 12 Black Sea nations take part in the regional multinational body.

Serdar stressed it was important for Turkey to improve the reputation of the organization.

"We believe that our organization should be an example to everyone in the region and outside of it," he said. "Of course, there are some problems among members but it is necessary that these problems are resolved in a peaceful manner… that we can come into a situation where they sit at the same table and talk about everything."

Gojkovic announced that Serbia will host an executive summit between Dec. 12 and 13 in Belgrade with BSEC foreign ministers.

The General Assembly of PABSEC will be held between July 4 and 6 in Turkey.