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