ST. PETERSBURG - Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc took over on Thursday term presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) from Russia in the 23rd Plenary Session of the PABSEC General Assembly in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Addressing the general assembly, Arinc stressed that international and regional cooperation had gained importance as a result of globalization.
Arinc said that cooperation organizations had provided rapid economic growth conditions and tried to reduce negative results of globalization as much as possible.
Turkey really wanted restoration of lasting peace and stability in the Black Sea basin, Arinc stated.
Arinc said that BSEC would gradually gain importance since it was not only an organization formed by countries which owned rich oil and natural gas resources but also had a strategic position uniting the West and the East in the center of Eurasia and a dominant role.
BSEC member countries was acting like a bridge for transfer of Caspian and Central Asian energy resources between Europe and Asia, Arinc pointed out.
Arinc expressed full belief that PABSEC would make well use of its strategic position and advantage and contribute to increase of level of welcome of its members.
Turkish Parliament Speaker Arinc said that he would do his best to further improve cooperation among parliaments of BSEC member countries and expressed belief that all the member countries would be in close and constructive solidarity to achieve common goals.
Following the general assembly, Arinc and Sergey Mironov, the Chairman of the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, are expected to hold a joint press conference.
(BRC-AÖ) 03.06.2004