Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

The next session of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking Countries (TurkPA) will be held in Azerbaijan's capital Baku in 2014. A relevant decision was made at the fourth plenary session dedicated to the 5th anniversary of TurkPA, which took place June 10-11.

Opening the session, Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek said that the difference of TurkPA from other similar entities is that its members are deputies representing fraternal nations.

Cicek said Armenia's aggression policy against Azerbaijan is one of the issues which concerns TurkPA members and that Turkic-speaking countries should continue to support Azerbaijan on this issue.

An Azerbaijani delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov attended the fourth plenary session of TurkPA.

Addressing the session, Asadov said TurkPA plays an important role in strengthening political ties between its members and makes an important contribution to the development of inter-parliamentary cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the four members of TurkPA.

According to Asadov, the idea of Turkic unity on the governmental and parliamentary levels plays an important role in the formation of the Turkic peoples as a united force. Asadov said Azerbaijan is actively supporting all the activities undertaken by TurkPA.

The Parliament Speaker noted the growing role of parliamentary diplomacy in present-day world politics and said that TurkPA creates a favorable platform for using the vast potential of parliamentary diplomacy.

According to Asadov, bilateral and multilateral economic projects and mutual investments in the region are aimed to create unified transport and communication systems.

Asadov said regional cooperation serves to the prosperity of nations and states, as well as contributes to an even greater convergence of Turkic-speaking countries.

In his speech Asadov said that the unresolved conflicts in the region pose a serious threat to international peace and security, as well as hamper the integration process.

Asadov also said Baku stands for a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the principles of international law and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.

According to the Speaker, the parliaments of a number of countries have adopted resolutions which stress the need to resolve the Karabakh conflict in compliance with the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Asadov noted the importance of intensifying efforts of the fraternal Turkic states in this regard.

The participants of the session acting as observers included executives of the Turkic Council, International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), the World League of Turkic Youth and other international organizations.

TurkPA Secretary General Ramil Hasanov informed attendees about the work of the International Secretariat of the Assembly in 2012.

The international relations of TurkPA, as well as social, cultural, humanitarian, economic, trade and financial issues were discussed at the session of the organization.

According to the recommendations of relevant commissions, appropriate decisions and budget framework were approved for 2014.

The session also formed a new international structure of the secretariat of TurkPA.

The Ankara Declaration was adopted by the participants of the session.

The speakers of the parliaments met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

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, the expansion of economic ties, the implementation of joint projects, and to seek solutions to the problems facing the Turkic world.