Azerbaijan assumes rotating PABSEC presidency after Yerevan session

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The 64th plenary session of the General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) kicked off on December 11 in Yerevan.

Parliamentary delegations from Armenia, Greece, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia and North Macedonia, as well as observers from various countries, PABSEC representatives and guests participated in the session, the Armenian parliament's press service reported. 

PABSEC Secretary-General Asaf Hajiyev, and representatives of Turkiye, Albania and Bulgaria participated remotely.

Armenian Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan, who holds the rotating PABSEC presidency, delivered opening remarks.

The first session featured discussions on financial issues pertaining to the organization’s 2025 budget. Next, BSEC Secretary-General Lazăr Comănescu presented the item on the activities of BSEC.

Black Sea Trade and Development Bank President Serhat Köksal spoke about the activities of the financial institution.

Main discussions revolved around the report titled Unblocking of Borders as Guarantee for Regional Development.

Armenian parliamentary delegation leader to PABSEC, MP Babken Tunyan, highlighted that the item is extremely important for the region because Armenia has been blockaded for over 30 years.

“The opening of borders will contribute to the development of Armenia’s economic activity through exports and imports as well as activation of regional connections. Opening of borders directly pertains to Crossroads of Peace initiative,” he said, adding that the international community has lauded the initiative.

“We don’t want to have a closed economy and closed borders with our neighbors,” he said, reiterating Yerevan’s commitment to strengthen regional economic cooperation, as the cornerstone of the collective security strategy.

“I am convinced that peace, as well as cooperation, are extremely important for economic development,” Tunyan added.

Representatives of Greece, Turkiye, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine also delivered speeches on the topic.

The conflicts and humanitarian disasters across the world were also discussed.

Participants attached importance to the peaceful resolution of conflicts and unblocking of borders in the region and elsewhere around the world.

The head of the Turkish delegation Fatih Donmez attached importance to the opening of borders between Armenia and Turkiye, and expressed support to the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Tunyan expressed hope that the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization will be completed successfully , thus contributing to regional development.

Multiple other agenda items were discussed.

The PABSEC rotating presidency was handed over from Armenia to Azerbaijan.

The next PABSEC GA meeting will be held in Azerbaijan in 2025.