POLITICS
BSEC member countries` NGO forum kicks off in Ankara
Baku, May 2 (AZERTAC). Forum of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) has started in Ankara.
The event brings together delegations from Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine and Greece.
Azerbaijan`s delegation is headed by Azay Guliyev, MP, chairman of the Forum, head of the Council of State Support for NGOs under the President of Azerbaijan.
Participants discussed proposals and a program of regional cooperation among the BSEC member countries` NGOs.
The Azerbaijani delegation held a series of meetings as part of the visit.
They met officials of Medya-Is media company to discuss the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Medya-Is CEO Gursel Eser said the occupation of the Azerbaijani city of Shusha is unacceptable, adding it is necessary to put an end to the occupation of Shusha, the cradle of Azerbaijani music and culture.
“Shusha is a strategic point with political significance to us, as majority of the residents of Shusha were Azerbaijani nationals,” Azay Guliyev said. “Many renowned figures of art and culture lived and created in Shusha.”
The Azerbaijani delegation includes of Rauf Zeyni, president of the Forum of National NGOs, Rufiz Gonagov, coordinator of the Alliance of NGO cooperation, Khalil Ismayilov, deputy chairman of the Center for International Cooperation and Elshad Eyvazli, chairman of the Association of Parliamentary Journalists.
The Constituent Assembly of the BSEC member countries` NGO Forum was held on November 27, 2012 in Baku and organized by the Council of State Support for NGOs under the President of Azerbaijan. The meeting resulted in the signing of the Baku Declaration and election of Azay Guliyev as the chairman of the Forum.