Ihor Kalyetnik: Ukraine will make every effort to improve the performance of the PABSEC

Press Service of the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Published on 26 February 2013, at 16:30

First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ihor Kalyetnik congratulated representatives of country-members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Assembly.

In his speech at a special meeting of the PABSEC, which took place on February 26 in Istanbul, I. Kalyetnik stated that "the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the PABSEC is a milestone for the new, wider and more ambitious achievements. For twenty years of its existence the Assembly has become one of the leading platforms of inter-parliamentary cooperation and our common aspirations are: the political stability and sustainable economic growth of the Black Sea region."

Ha stressed also on influence and authority of the Assembly, as evidenced by the interaction of PABSEC and the European Parliament, the Parliament Assembly of the Council of Europe, the CIS, the EurAsEC, the OSCE.

“Last week the new membership of the Permanent Delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the BSEC was approved. It shows that the earlier dialogue will continue with renewed vigor,” Ihor Kalyetnik said.

According to First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, BSEC countries should deepen economic cooperation.

“The Parties should intensify joint efforts of the creation of regional trade. Free trade regime fully operates with the SIC and GUAM countries. Ukraine is currently negotiating on free trade area creation with Turkey, Serbia and the EU,” Ihor Kalyetnik noted.

According to him, BSEC countries should pay particular attention to the issues of infrastructure and transport.

“It was planned to elaborate the draft Memorandum on data exchange of goods and vehicles that cross the borders of BSEC country-members. Its implementation will speed up the transportation of goods in Black Sea region, promote facilitation of trade procedures, development of Eurasian transport links,” First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stated.

Ihor Kalyetnik stressed on the importance of the issue of functioning of container train “Viking”, which connects the Black and Baltic seas.

In the year 2012, “Viking” has been transported around 14,000 TEU. We knew that Bulgaria recently joined this project, which means that the project is really interesting,” Ihor Kalyetnik said.

First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine invited also national delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly to the 40th session of the PABSEC Committee on economic, trade, technological and environmental issues that will be held in April this year in Odessa.

Ihor Kalyetnik expressed hope that “the parliaments of our countries will use opportunities more actively for prompt solving of the challenges we face.” “And Ukraine will make every effort to improve the performance of the PABSEC,” First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine assured.