PABSEC executive says Black Sea can become a more attractive region than EU zone

ISTANBUL (A.A) - February 21, 2012 - The head of Turkish Group at the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parliamentary Assembly (PABSEC) said on Tuesday that BSEC region could become a more attractive region than the European Union (EU) zone. Ismail Safi said BSEC could become a more attractive organization that the EU. "We will try to create a special vision for BSEC on the 20th anniversary of its establishment," Safi said during a PABSEC Standing Committee meeting in Istanbul. Representatives from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Russia and Ukraine attended the meeting. On 25 June 1992, the Heads of State and Government of eleven countries including Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine signed in Istanbul the Summit Declaration and the Bosphorus Statement to establish BSEC. BSEC aims at fostering interaction and harmony among the Member States, as well as to ensure peace, stability and prosperity encouraging friendly and good-neighbourly relations in the Black Sea region. Established on February 26, 1993 as a parliamentary dimension of the BSEC, the PABSEC has proved to be an effective forum for inter-parliamentary dialogue in the Black Sea region. With a membership of 76 parliamentarians representing the national parliaments of the twelve BSEC Member States, the PABSEC facilitates the mobilization of efforts by the national parliaments aimed at promoting democratic values, the rule of law, pluralistic society and market economy. The main objective of the PABSEC is to provide assistance to the national parliaments in enacting the laws that are necessary for the implementation of the projects elaborated within the framework of the Organisation of the BSEC and to establish the legislative foundation for successful multilateral economic, political and cultural cooperation in the region.