Azernews.Az

A draft on establishing the Turkic Union Parliament has been submitted to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The document was presented in the country's legislative body by a lawmaker from Istanbul Aladdin Boyukkaya, who represents the ruling AK Party.
Boyukkaya told local media that the parliament to comprise 50 MPs from Turkic states will strive to promote political relations among these nations and boost their ties with other states and international organizations. In the initial stage of the project, the countries involved will delegate an equal number of representatives to the body. The number of representatives will be adjusted later based on the population, the experience applied in the European Parliament.
As for chairmanship, the first meeting of the parliament will be chaired by the oldest MP. Afterwards, a special commission to be set up will elect the speaker. The parliament leadership will also include two vice-speakers and a secretary-general. Three parliamentary commissions will be established. The body's decisions will become laws only after their ratification in the parliaments of all member states. The new parliament will have its own flag, a website, a logotype and a symbol. In the future, representatives of non-Turkic states could become members of the organization with the observer status.
Boyukkaya said the Turkish government would undertake the expenses involved in establishing the parliament and upkeeping its staff.
The issue of setting up a parliamentary body of Turkic states has been on the agenda for a long time. Azerbaijan has been supporting the initiative ever since it came to the fore. Turkey and Kazakhstan have stated their backing of the idea as well. Although other Turkic states are undoubtedly in favor of the measure, they have yet to express their official positions to that end. But given that Turkey has tackled steps to materialize the initiative, the parliamentary body is likely to launch activity soon.