President Ilham Aliyev has saluted participants of the 28th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC).

“The role of regional organizations in ensuring peace, security and stability in contemporary world is getting increasingly important,” he said in a message addressed to the participants of the event on November 21.

“In an effort to deepen political and economic cooperation between nations, these organizations make significance contribution to the processes of regional integration. In this context, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, through expansion of interparliamentary ties, creates favorable conditions for bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the countries of the region, and take an active part in settling common problems.”

“The Republic of Azerbaijan attaches great significance to deepening of partnership relations and fruitful cooperation in the framework of the Organizations of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The transnational economic projects being implemented by our countries in close cooperation serve strengthening of peace and stability in the region.”

Launching in May of this year of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main oil export pipeline constructed due to the efforts by three members states of the organization – Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan – has become a graphic manifestation of successful regional partnership.”

“Realization of other joint projects, such as construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline and Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway, which are now in progress, as well as the East-West energy corridor, and Europe-Caucasus-Asia and North-South transport corridors, can lead to changing the face of the whole Black Sea region.”

“All this proves that there are every opportunity for dynamic development of our region. Unfortunately, however, existence of several conflicts remains a great obstruction on the path towards flourishing of our region. The still unresolved Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in which we had been involved forcedly, not only delays development in our country, but also poses a serious threat to peace and stability in both region and the whole world.”

“Having chosen the way of democratic development, the Republic of Azerbaijan regards building legal state and civil society as its priority. Along with reaching the world’s highest economic growth rate in recent years, our country has achieved considerable progress also in the fields of ensuring the rule of law and protection of human rights and freedoms.”

“I am confident that political dialogue within the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation can be a weighty help to consolidation of the values common to all mankind, deepening of mutual understanding, establishment of peaceful life and development of good neighbor relations in the region.”

“It is notable that it is for the third time that the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku is hosting the high-level forum of the influential international organization bringing together parliaments of twelve states.”

President Ilham Aliyev expressed hope that decisions to be taken at the session will serve progress in member-states, and further strengthening of mutually beneficial relations between them.

He congratulated participants of the session on its opening, and wished them success in work.