Visit of the Delegation of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia to the PABSEC International Secretariat, Istanbul, 5 July 2021

On 5 July 2021, the Delegation of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia composed of Ms. Lidija Tasevska, Head of the PABSEC Delegation, Ms. Cvetanka Ivanova, Secretary General of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, Mr. Ilir Selmani, Head of the Cabinet of the President of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia and Ms Bleta Bilali, Secretary of the PABSEC Delegation, visited the PABSEC International Secretariat and met with Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, PABSEC Secretary General.

Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, PABSEC Secretary General, expressed his gratitude to the Delegation and noted with satisfaction, that he expects the beginning of the next year when the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia becomes a full-fledged member of the PABSEC. The Secretary General informed the guests that the PABSEC Standing Committee accepted the proposal of the PABSEC Secretary General, on the participation, during this year, of the Delegation of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, as an observer, without voting right, in order to get familiar with the PABSEC activities. He also informed about the results of the 57th PABSEC General Assembly and the planned activities of the PABSEC and its Committees. The Secretary General underlined the active participation of the PABSEC representatives in election observation missions, in the BSEC Member States.

Ms. Lidija Tasevska, Head of the PABSEC Delegation of the Republic of North Macedonia, emphasized the interest of the parliament in strengthening the cooperation with the parliaments of the Black Sea region, within the framework of the PABSEC. She also noted the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, expressing the hope that the similarity of problems and interests along with the diversity of the peoples in the Region will strengthen regional inter-parliamentary cooperation in the future. She also presented her vision on the contribution of the North Macedonian Delegation to the achievement of the goals and objectives of the PABSEC.

Ms. Tsvetanka Ivanova, Secretary General of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, stressed that the parliamentary delegation is preparing for the upcoming PABSEC membership and asked the PABSEC Secretary General to clarify some technical and legal aspects. She noted that the local elections will be held in the Republic of North Macedonia, on 21 October 2021 and assured the PABSEC Secretary General that the PABSEC Delegation will be invited as an observer.

The PABSEC Secretary General gave detailed explanations to all the questions of the Delegation and expressed confidence in fruitful cooperation in the future.

The Delegation of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia expressed its gratitude for the warm welcome and hope for the effective development of the cooperation between the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia and the PABSEC.

The Meeting was also attended by Mr. Aktan Ago, Consul General of the Republic of North Macedonia in Istanbul.