Albania takes over the presidency of the PABSEC

TIRANA, July 4 – Ukraine has passed the presidency at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) to Albania.
The presidency at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation goes to the parliament of the Republic of Albania,” stated Ukrainian Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn.
The ceremony of handing over the presidency to Albanian Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli was held at the 37th plenary session of the General Assembly of the BSEC in Kiev last weekend.
Lytvyn noted that “topical issues that will determine the prospects and the future of the regions we represent and each of our countries” were discussed at the meeting, including bilateral and multilateral consultations.
Topalli assessed PABSEC as a forum of particular importance to the issue of bilateral and multilateral cooperation of the member countries of the organization.
Ukraine is interested in intensifying cooperation with Albania in all spheres of mutual interests, said Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych at a meeting with Topalli.
Yanukovych expressed confidence in the possibility of restoring trade volume between Ukraine and Albania to what it was before the global financial and economic crisis and, moreover, increasing the commodity turnover between the countries.
Topalli called on Ukrainian businessmen to invest in Albania, particularly in the country’s infrastructure, energy and mining sectors.
The parties agreed that the launch of direct air service between Kiev and Tirana would help deepen Ukrainian-Albanian trade and economic relations and interpersonal relationships.
Established on 26th February 1993 as a parliamentary dimension of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (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 Organization of the BSEC and to establish the legislative foundation for successful multilateral economic, political and cultural cooperation in the region.