Vucic: Important cooperation of the members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said that the member countries of the "Parliamentary Assembly of Black Sea Economic Cooperation" (PABSEC) only had the opportunity to substantially contribute to the design of common solutions for global challenges through association, RTV reports.

The Vucic’s message, which was read by the MP Igor Becic today in Belgrade at the opening of the 60th session of the PABSEC General Assembly, emphasized that next year would be marked 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Organization for Black Sea Economic Cooperation.

Vucic expressed his satisfaction that Belgrade was hosting the Parliamentary Assembly of that organization.

"I am convinced that we will justify the traditional hospitality of our Serbia," Vucic said.

He emphasized that the current geopolitical circumstances, the world was faced with, reminded us of the importance of all the mechanisms that encouraged cooperation.

Vucic believes that the member countries of the organization must strengthen mutual ties in all the key areas around which they gathered when they were founded, with the hope that by working together they will contribute to a better life for citizens and the progress of countries.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic welcomed all member states of the Organization for Black Sea Economic Cooperation and pointed out that the work of this Organization had become even more important due to the complex situation at the global level.

"The armed conflict and the war in Ukraine have caused tectonic changes in the security structure, and the importance of unity and cooperation is gaining a new dimension," Dacic said.

He stated that the topics that connected the member countries of the organization are: economic issues, the development of democracy, the rule of law, the fight against organized crime and terrorism in the region, environmental protection, and cooperation in the fields of culture, education, as well as cooperation with civil society and other European and international communities.

On this occasion, the President of the National Assembly, Vladimir Orlic, said that regional cooperation was one of Serbia's foreign policy priorities.

He emphasized that Serbia provided a significant contribution to the Organization for Black Sea Economic Cooperation, as well as to strengthening its efficiency and visibility.

Orlic pointed out that since joining that organization in 2004, Serbia had been determined to develop and strengthen friendly relations with all member states.

"The preservation of peace and stability both in the Western Balkan region and beyond, the existence of mutually beneficial cooperation as intensively as possible in all areas, and dialogue as a means of seeking solutions to all open issues are of high importance for Serbia," Orlic said.

MPs from all 13 PABSEC member countries gathered in the Serbian Parliament today, together with guests from other countries and representatives of international organizations, after a long break caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The topics of the general debate will be the role of parliaments and inter-parliamentary cooperation in stimulating economic growth in the wider Black Sea region, challenges and perspectives of cooperation in the field of agriculture in the BSEC member states after the pandemic, the role of parliaments in stimulating foreign investments, as well as the social impact of the refugee crisis in the BSEC member states.

In addition to Serbia, delegations from the member states of North Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Turkey, and Ukraine are participating in the session of the General Assembly.