During December 10-12 Georgia hosts the 30th Plenary Session of the General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. Today 37th session of the assembly bureau took place at Marriott Courtyard. The session was presided by the President of the General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, Georgia's acting president Nino Burjanadze who said that holding the 30th Plenary Session in Georgia and the visit of the organization's member states representatives was of significant importance.

Nino Burjanadze said that the Tbilisi sessions finalize Georgia's six-month chairmanship of the parliamentary assembly, which, to her opinion, had become quite active during that period. As Burjanadze said, this fact had been noted at the meeting of the heads and foreign ministers of the member states of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.

According to the president of the Parliamentary Assembly, during the last six months efforts of the Parliamentary Assembly had been directed towards the reinforcement and furthering of its role in the economic cooperation organization.

"I consider that the Parliamentary Assembly can greatly contribute to the functioning of the organization and we should take this opportunity since this organization covers the area where over 300 million people live," said Nino Burjanadze, emphasizing that the important role that the organization's member states can play in the transportation of energy carrier from Azerbaijan to Europe should be taken into consideration.

Nino Burjanadze particularly emphasized that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation could contribute to the resolution of existing conflicts in the region.

"To my mind the view that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation is only an organization for economic cooperation and that is why it is not participating in the resolution of conflicts, is wrong. I think that it should become more active and should not be limited only with the economic cooperation. When there are conflicts, it is impossible to talk about the expansion of economic cooperation and establishing tight contacts between countries," she said.

After the Tbilisi session the presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly will be granted to Greece. Nino Burjanadze expressed hope that many ideas generated during the last six months will become a reality. One of them is Burjanadze's idea to establish a summit of the Black Sea countries' parliament speakers. Greece will host this summit next year.

The same day permanent and cultural, educational, and social issues committees of the parliamentary assembly were held.

The 30th Plenary Session of the General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation will resume working tomorrow, December 11, at 10:00.

Press Office
of the President of Georgia