Working Visit of Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, PABSEC Secretary General, to Tirana, 27-28 October 2021
On 27-28 October 2021, Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, PABSEC Secretary General, paid a working visit to the capital of the Republic of Albania, Tirana, and had meetings with the leadership of the country. The PABSEC Secretary General was accompanied by Ms. Renata Meto, Secretary of the PABSEC Cultural, Educational and Social Affairs Committee.
Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, PABSEC Secretary General, met with Mr. Ilir Meta, President of the Republic of Albania, former Speaker of the Albanian Parliament.
Mr. Hajiyev expressed his gratitude for Albania’s support to the enhancement of the interparliamentary relations in the Black Sea Region and for his personal contribution during his term as the Speaker of the Parliament. The Secretary General informed the President about the current and future plans including the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the PABSEC in 2023 and the 30th Anniversary of the BSEC in 2022.
The President of the Republic of Albania thanked the Secretary General for the high evaluation of his work and assured of further support to the activities of the Assembly. Mr. Meta congratulated the Secretary General for successfully strengthening cooperation in the PABSEC framework. The President of the country emphasized the importance of the Parliamentary dimension as a significant component in promoting regional initiatives for political and economic security.
Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, PABSEC Secretary General, visited the Parliament of the Republic of Albania and met with Ms. Lindita Nikolla, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania.
The PABSEC Secretary General expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to have the meeting in the difficult pandemic situation and noted the contribution of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania and of the PABSEC Albanian Delegation in promoting the cooperation within the PABSEC. Mr. Hajiyev invited the Speaker of the Parliament to pay a visit to the International Secretariat in Istanbul and informed about the preparatory work of the PABSEC for the 58th PABSEC General Assembly to be held in November 2021 in the framework of the PABSEC Romanian Presidency. The Secretary General also proposed the Speaker to participate in international parliamentary gatherings representing the PABSEC. The Secretary General also raised the issue of organising the next meeting of the PABSEC Economic, Commercial and Financial Affairs Committee in Albania on 16-17 March 2022. The Secretary General also informed the Speaker about the plans for celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the PABSEC in 2023.
Ms. Lindita Nikolla, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, underlined the interest of the Republic of Albania in enhancing the economic cooperation with the BSEC Member States and developing joint economic projects. The Speaker of the Parliament noted the importance of the active participation of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania in the activities of the PABSEC and assured the Secretary General that soon the Albanian PABSEC Delegation will be formed. Ms. Nikolla expressed overall support to the activities of the PABSEC and noted that the Albanian Parliament will continue to bring its contribution to the activities of the Assembly.
The PABSEC Secretary General met with Ms. Irma Pashkja, Director General of the Foreign Relations Service in the Albanian Parliament. Ms. Pashkja highly appreciated the long-term fruitful cooperation between the Parliament of the Republic of Albania and the PABSEC and assured the Secretary General of further support to the activities of the Assembly.
During the meeting, Mr. Hajiyev informed about the current and future work of the Parliamentary Assembly and about the preparation for the 58th PABSEC General Assembly to be held online on 23 November 2021. Also, the exchange of views took place regarding the organisation of the committee meetings in Tirana in 2022.
Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, PABSEC Secretary General, met with Mr. Andrea Marto, the former Head of the PABSEC Albanian Delegation. Mr. Marto warmly recalled the years of work in the PABSEC and highly appreciated the established cooperation between the Parliament of the Republic of Albania and the PABSEC. He assured the Secretary General of further support to the activities of the Assembly.