YEREVAN — The opening ceremony of the 64th General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) was held in Yerevan on December 11.
Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan, who holds the rotating PABSEC presidency, delivered opening remarks stating:
“Armenia is a landlocked country and has systemic vulnerabilities in accessing global markets, Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Alen Simonyan said in opening remarks at the 64th plenary session of the General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).
Therefore, he said, “we recognize the importance of equal and inclusive connectivity, open borders, and fully functioning transport infrastructure for the economic well-being of the region.”
“The elimination of political barriers to the free movement of people, goods, and services, the realization of human economic and social rights, including the right to development, is a vital prerequisite for the full realization of the economic potential of the Black Sea region and its integration into global markets,” Simonyan said.
“The Black Sea region is of great importance in the context of the development of trade and transport communications in the East-West and North-South directions. In order to identify and realize the transport potential of the region, we should focus our efforts on the effective implementation of the BSEC mechanisms. The implementation of the “Black Sea Ring Highway”, “Sea Routes” initiatives can significantly increase the resilience and improve the quality of transport infrastructure in our region. It is also important to develop joint mechanisms for trade facilitation and simplification of customs procedures,” the Speaker noted.
He emphasized that due to its geographical location, the South Caucasus can contribute to economic cooperation and trade between Europe and Asia. “The unblocking of all trade and transport communications in the South Caucasus, based on full respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality and reciprocity of states, will open up new opportunities not only for the economic development of the region, but also for people-to-people contacts and cultural ties. This will significantly contribute to security and stability in the region and beyond,” he said.
“Guided by this vision, the Government of Armenia has introduced the Crossroads of Peace initiative. As part of our peace agenda, this program aims to develop regional communications based on international law, state sovereignty and jurisdiction. The Crossroads of Peace program can effectively connect the Persian Gulf, the Black and Caspian Seas, contributing to the expansion of economic cooperation and trade,” he said.
“Armenia has been constructively engaged in negotiations with Azerbaijan on the lifting of the blockade of transport infrastructure. No less important is the resumption of communication routes with Turkey. The successful outcome of this process can restore the region’s importance in international cargo transportation, contributing to the well-being of our countries and peoples and peace in the region,” Simonyan stated.
He noted that the “Crossroads of Peace” is aimed at transforming the paradigm of relations in the region from confrontation to cooperation.
“We hope that the parliaments of the BSEC member states will support this initiative, which is fully is in line with the principles and norms of international law. I am confident that with joint efforts we can significantly contribute to a better and more prosperous future for all countries in our region,” the National Assembly Speaker said.
