Transport corridors between Turkic-speaking countries increase: TurkPA
By Nazrin Gadimova
The number of transport corridors between Turkic-speaking countries will increase, TURKPA Secretary General said.
Jandos Asanov made the remarks at a third meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-Speaking Countries (TurkPA) Commission on Economic, Trade, and Financial Affairs.
The event, which was held in Baku on February 11, brought together MPs from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. The commission heard a report on the role of transport communications in the field of economic cooperation.
Addressing the event, Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ziyafat Asgarov said TurkPA can turn, and has already transformed, into a more efficient organization, contributing to the development of cooperation in all areas.
He said it was not an accident that the agenda of the meeting included transportation issues, because early next year the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will be launched.
The railway is not just a transport project, but also an important step towards the convergence of nations, he added.
"Shah Deniz - 2" project also plays an important role in supplying Azerbaijan's gas and the resources of the Central Asia to Europe, Asgarov said.
"This means that the main part of the locomotive transport accounts for the Turkic world's share," he said. "However, when Zangezur was taken away from Azerbaijan by Armenia at the beginning of the last century, Turkic countries were geographically cut off from each other. But we will overcome geographical barriers. I wish the Central Asian countries have been more active in this process to achieve their goals. We are connected to each other not only through transport geography, but also through our history and culture. In this regard, this meeting is very important. I am sure that decisions that will be made at this meeting will contribute to the development of the Turkic world."
Deputy Chairman of the commission and Azerbaijan's MP, Sevinj Huseynova noted that the report also includes the decisions made at the 3rd Summit of Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States which was held in Azerbaijan's Gabala in August, 2013.
Addressing the event, Huseynova said the increasing number of transport corridors and infrastructure improvements will have a positive impact on the economies of all the Turkic-speaking countries.
Kazakhstan's representative Sarsenbay Yensegenov noted that improving transport and logistics infrastructure between the Turkic-speaking countries is one of the priorities, adding that the development of maritime trade is important for the Turkic-speaking countries and contributes to their entry into the European markets.
Turkey's representative Mahmut Mücahit Findikli said economic ties between the TurkPA countries have strengthened in recent years, adding that trade, customs, and tourism will develop to solve the transport problems.
Speaking at the event, Azerbaijan's MP Nizami Jafarov said transport is one of the most important issues that unite the Turkic world, adding that the solution of the problems in this area will boost cooperation in other areas.
Following the meeting, the commission adopted a document on the issues recommended for consideration by the plenary meeting of the TurkPA. Holding the 4th session of the commission in Kazakhstan in the second half of this year was also agreed upon.
The meeting also decided to hold the plenary session of the TurkPA in Baku in the summer of 2014.
TurkPA is the parliamentary union of Turkic-speaking countries whose purpose is to form the mechanism of inter-parliamentary relations among the Turkic countries, promote the convergence of political views, exchange of information, Turkic culture, expansion of economic ties, and implementation of joint projects, and seek solutions to the problems facing the Turkic world.