ISTANBUL HOSTS 1ST CONFERENCE OF PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF TURKIC-SPEAKING COUNTRIES

Baku, 22 November,(AzerTAj)The 1st Conference of Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking countries was held Friday in Istanbul, Turkey.

In his inauguration address, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said the idea of
establishment of Turkic-speaking countries` Parliamentary Assembly was initiated by
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
According to him, heads of Turkic-speaking countries supported the idea of setting
up the Parliamentary Assembly`s Permanent Secretary which will be located in Turkey.
The issue, he added, will be discussed during the Assembly`s second summit to be
held in Baku next year.
He also expressed confidence the Baku summit would be very important to strengthen
cooperation among Turkic-speaking countries.
President Gul stressed fraternal Turkic countries had recently carried out major
energy and transport projects which are vivid evidence of successful cooperation
among these countries.
Gul also expressed hope the first conference would inject an impetus to friendly and
cooperative relations among members of the Parliamentary Assembly.
Attending the event, Speaker of Azerbaijan Milli Majlis Ogtay Asadov said the
Parliamentary Assembly`s establishment would contribute to deepening cooperation
among Turkic-speaking countries` parliaments.
Ogtay Asadov stressed his country attaches special importance to strengthening
solidarity throughout the Turkic world.
Azerbaijani MP Nizami Jafarov said common problems of the Turkic world such as the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the so-called Armenian genocide could only be resolved
by making joint efforts.
He expressed hope Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan would join the Parliamentary Assembly
in the future.
Signing the Agreement on establishment of the Parliamentary Assembly of
Turkic-speaking countries were Chairman of Turkish Grand National Assembly Koksal
Toptan, Milli Majlis Speaker Ogtay Asadov, Kazakhstan`s Senate Vice Speaker
Mukhambet Kopeyev, Speaker of Kyrgyz parliament Aytibay Tagayev.
On the sidelines of the conference, Ogtay Asadov met with Turkish President Abdullah
Gul, TGNA Speaker Koksal Toptan and others.
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