Liudmyla Denisova, Head of the Permanent delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC): Ukraine has dismantled PABSEC membership of a Russian lawlessly elected deputy from the Crimea.

“Within today's plenary meeting of the General Assembly new make-ups of delegations were considered. The Ukrainian party produced convincing arguments regarding impossibility to acknowledge a delegate mandate for the Russian delegate Pavel Shperov elected to the State Duma of the Russian Federation in September 2016 from the illegally annexed Crimea,” informed Liudmila Denisova. All the PABSEC countries backed Ukraine on this question, with the exception of Armenia which, together with Russia, tried to confirm Shperov's powers.

Pursuant to the PABSEC Regulations, to decide on inclusion of such Russian nominee to the delegation’s make-up, the Assembly has established an ad hoc committee in charge for the relevant recommendations to the Standing committee scheduled to sit in Kyiv in autumn.

Hence, at the 49th session of the General Assembly, the delegate from Russia Pavel Shperov did not obtain proper PABSEC member’s authorities. At the same time, being insisted by the Ukrainian party, the General Assembly adjourned its debates for a while to remove Pavel Shperov from the conference hall.

“All Russia’s pains to pop the illegitimate State Duma’s deputy elected from the illegally annexed Crimea into the international PABSEC organization have gained a serious setback,’ underscored Liudmyla Denisova.

All the member countries of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) have confirmed that due respect to sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine is one of the principles of the organization.

This confirmation has today been stated in the PABSEC’s anniversary declaration accepted on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. According to Liudmyla Denisova, Head of the Permanent delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation “since the Declaration has allowed for all amendments of our delegation, its adoption is like a next step to condemnation of the Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The declaration text runs that the PABSEC members’ proceedings are to be based on the tradition of mutual friendship and respect to sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders of the members.”

Russia and Armenia refused acceptance of the document. At the initiative of the Armenian delegation, a double majority procedure was to be applied to accept the declaration. According to the procedure, there must be obtained approval of no less than half of the national delegations and a simple majority of all members of the Assembly.

“Forty four members and ten delegations said ‘aye’ to the declaration acceptance, and only nine members and two delegations squeaked their ‘nay’,” resumed the head of the Ukrainian delegation in PABSEC.

Liudmyla Denisova, Head of the Permanent delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation: “Without peace and security no economic growth of the Black Sea region is possible at present”.

That was the declaration of Liudmyla Denisova during the debates on the role of parliaments in assurance of safety and peace in the Black Sea region at the 49th session of the General Assembly of PABSEC. ”The aggressive policy of Russia against the other members undermines the essence of the Organization,” noted Liudmyla Denisova.

In her report she also stressed that the Crimea occupied by Russia is today becoming a real military base with accompanying loyalty purges and repressions against the opponents, and the representatives of aboriginal population in particular. The Russian aggression resulted in 1,5 mln wave of out-migrants who were forced to flee their homes, and almost ten thousand persons killed according to the United Nations’ data.

“Such esteemed organization as the United Nations and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have repeatedly qualified this Russia’s crime behavior. Since near all the PABSEC members are parts of UN and PACE they voted in favour of the resolution to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and condemn Russia’s deeds,” added the Ukrainian delegation head.

Liudmyla Denisova drew attention that Ukraine has multiply called on the Black Sea Economic Cooperation members to denounce the Russian military aggression. “Although the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation does not hold a relevant mandate, it cannot keep aloof! Without restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty no security within the whole Black Sea region can be guaranteed,” stated Liudmyla Denisova.

According to Liudmyla Denisova all the parliaments of the Black Sea region countries should send a pretty distinct political message aimed at a swiftest possible settlement of all and any of the regional conflicts and termination of acts of aggression against Ukraine.