Asaf Hajiyev

News

Working visit of the PABSEC Delegation to the Republic of North Macedonia, Skopje, 8-10 June 2021

The PABSEC Delegation composed of Mr. Cemal Ozturk, Head of the PABSEC Turkish Delegation, and Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, PABSEC Secretary General, paid a working visit to the Republic of North Macedonia on 8-10 June 2021 and had meetings in the Parliament and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country.

During the meeting with Mr. Talat Xhaferi, Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, the accession of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia to the PABSEC was discussed. The Speaker noted the role and importance of the wider Black Sea region and expressed interest in closer cooperation within the framework of the PABSEC. The Speaker underlined that the Parliament is ready to become an official PABSEC member from 1 January 2022. The PABSEC Delegation welcomed the decision of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia to join the PABSEC. The Secretary General informed about the current activities of the Assembly and its committees and invited the Speaker of the Parliament to Istanbul. The meeting was also attended by Ms. Lydia Tasevska, Head of the PABSEC North Macedonian Delegation, Ms. Tsvetanka Ivanova, Secretary General of the Assembly, and Mr. Ilir Selmani, Chief of the Cabinet of the Speaker.

During the meeting with Ms. Lydia Tasevska, Head of the PABSEC North Macedonian Delegation, the members of the delegation Ms. Blagica Lagovska and Ms. Vjolca Ademi, and the secretaries of the delegation, was noted the important role of parliamentary diplomacy and participation in various inter-parliamentary structures, including the PABSEC. The PABSEC delegation noted the role of the PABSEC and the Black Sea region in international political life and informed about major regional projects and their impact on the stability and prosperity of the peoples and states in the region.

At a meeting with Ms. Anna Kacakova, Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Assembly, the organizational and legal issues, and the structure of the Parliamentary Assembly were discussed. The importance of cooperation within the framework of the PABSEC was underlined. The PABSEC delegation expressed its readiness for further fruitful cooperation within the framework of the Parliamentary Assembly.

During the meeting with Mr. Zoran Popov, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, the PABSEC delegation presented brief information about the PABSEC and its activities. It was emphasized that the accession of the Republic of North Macedonia to the BSEC Organization as a full member opened the opportunity for the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia to become a full member of the PABSEC and a decision on this issue is expected to be taken at the upcoming session of the General Assembly. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Aktan Ago, Consul General of the Republic of North Macedonia to Istanbul.

In the framework of the visit of the PABSEC delegation to the Republic of North Macedonia the meeting also took place with Mr. Mehmet Sekizkok, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the Republic of North Macedonia. The prospects of the parliamentary cooperation in the wider Black Sea region were considered and the constructive contribution of the Turkish Parliament to the activities of the Assembly was noted.

The PABSEC Delegation visited the International Balkan University upon the invitation of the Rector prof. Mehmet Dursun Erdem and met with members of the Board of Trustees. The Rector of the University informed about the current events and projects organized by the International Balkan University. During the conversation, the PABSEC Secretary General presented information on the current and future activities of the Assembly and stressed the importance of cooperation with educational institutions. The Secretary General expressed his intention to strengthen cooperation in the field of education, science, and research and to promote joint activities with educational establishments and research centers.