AZERBAIJAN’S PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION ATTENDS MEETING IN ATHENS

Baku, 10 June, (AzerTAj) - Azerbaijan’s Parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Ogtay Asadov attended a meeting of the Presidents of the Parliaments of the PABSEC Member Countries and 31st PABSEC General Assembly in Athens, Greece, on June 9. Opening the meeting Dimitris Sioufas, PABSEC President, Greek Parliament Speaker said that economic, trade, cultural cooperation among BSEC member countries has rapidly developed over the past years. Delivering a speech at the event, Ogtay Asadov noted that the Black Sea region’s increasing role in the world necessitates close cooperation among member countries. He also stressed the importance of developing inter-parliamentary relations. Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, O. Asadov said protraction of the conflict impedes Azerbaijan’s economic growth and threatens peace and stability in region and the world. “The conflict settlement must be based on principles of international law and strict maintenance of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity� the Azerbaijani Speaker said. A Declaration on the PABSEC’s 15th anniversary was adopted at the event. On June 9, Ogtay Asadov met with President of Greece Karolos Papoulias, Moldova’s Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu and Vice-Chairman of the Russia’s State Duma Valery Yazev. The sides discussed relations including inter-parliamentary cooperation among their countries.