RA NA President Artur Baghdasaryan, taking part in the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of RF State Duma, gave a speech in Tavrichesky Palace of Saint Petersburg at the international conference “European Parliamentarism: History and Modernity.” “I’m glad that in the conference within the framework of the 100th anniversary of State Duma an opportunity was given for the support of the interparliamentary dialogue, strengthening of cooperation of two organizations aimed at the generalization of experience, exchange of opinions and separation of similar problems, according to which we can reach obvious results.
We support this initiative, which marks in our vision a new qualitative level of interparliamentary cooperation, extending of the geography of the dialogue between the parliamentarians of CIS IPA and CE member countries.
As PABSEC President I would like to note that one of the directions of the activity of our organization, which promotes the development of the cooperation between its participants, have been and remain the joint efforts on the establishment of legal bases for cooperation, the desire on deepening the economic and political integration in European processes.
In the first stage of the formation of PABSEC it is aimed to preserve the historically shaped political and economic relations with CE with the perspective of joint integration to the regional processes.
The region of the Black Sea geographically and economically belongs to the European territory. That’s why the growing interest of the European Union towards the regional programmes, which were discussed with PSEC in the spheres of transport, power, small and medium entrepreneurship, trade and investments, gives us hope.
Today the PABSEC is a dynamic democratic forum for dialogue and cooperation. The experience of the past years clearly demonstrated the rising role of PABSEC in deepening the cooperation between the management institutes and peoples of our region through its elected representatives.
During the recent years the relations with EU for PABSEC are of priority. Let’s not forget that Greece is a member of the European Union, and there are several countries, which are on the verge of EU membership. The development of the relations between BSEC and EU, the “New Neighbourhood” European policy proved the justice of the efforts beginning from 2000 in respect to the rise of cooperation level with European Parliament.
I’m convinced that the activation of the relations between the European Union and BSEC, including the parliamentarian components, the European Parliament and PABSEC will be of benefit, for the countries of the Black Sea region, having the transition period, as well as CE, in promoting the integration processes in the scale of the whole continent. I’m convinced that the cooperation of the national parliaments within Europe will strengthen the parliamentary diplomacy and create an atmosphere of peace, trust and stability.
The BSEC is observed by the majority of the countries as an element of European wide integration. Whereas the European Union is on the verge of further extension with participation of several BSEC member states, the BSEC observes its relations with the European Parliament of priority, the relationship between the PABSEC and European Parliament reached the most important stage. The Assembly welcomes the regular participation of EU representatives in the sessions and permanently expresses its support for the strengthening of the relations between the two parliamentary structures.
During the General Assembly held in Bucharest on December 8-10 the PABSEC adopted a recommendation “On the Establishment of European Economic Space”, where it expresses support to the idea of the elaboration “EU Black Sea Strategy” on including in the EU politics in respect to that region. At the sitting in Bucharest the Assembly also adopted a recommendation “On the Black Sea Region in the Context of EU Enlargement,” where it is emphasized that the high attractiveness of the membership in the EU is a strong stimulus for making inner reforms strengthening the political economic stability and sustainable economic growth. The members of the Assembly discussed the message of the European Commission addressed to Council of Europe and European Parliament – “Wider Europe: Neighbourhood: New Framework of Relationship with Our Eastern and Western Neighbours” and expressed their opinion in a document, which was sent to the European Parliament.
The other important step in strengthening the relations in the aspect of cooperation was the holding of the parliamentarian conference “The Black Sea Enlarged Region Under European New Architecture” within the framework of the Greek Presidency in BSEC on April, 2005 in Athens by the Greek Parliament by the support of International Centre of Black Sea Researches and PABSEC. At Tirana sitting the PABSEC Committee on Legal and Political Affairs discussed the issue “On the Framework of Cooperation Between PABSEC and European Parliament.”
Adhering to the European fundamental principles of European parliamentarian organizations, democratic values, law priority, protection of human rights, and being led by them we should carry on the improvement of the legal field, providing conditions for strengthening those norms, we should continue the harmonization of the national legislation with the European standards, development of democratic institutes.
I think that the cooperation between our organizations mainly should be aimed at the elaboration of the unified approaches towards the legality of fighting against the challenges of new millennium, and should be of long lasting and consecutive character.
To my deep conviction this meeting is called for widening, strengthening and developing the relations created between parliamentarian organizations.”
