09 November 2015, 14:59
The joint meeting of the BSEC Committee of Senior Officials and the PABSEC took place in Istanbul (Turkey) on November 5, 2015.
On behalf of Ukraine, Kyrylenko welcomed the adoption of the "Joint Action Plan for Enhancing Cooperation between BSEC and PABSEC (2016-2018)" by the Council of foreign affairs ministers of BSEC member countries.
He noted that the adoption of the document was an important step on the way to enhancement of cooperation between the BSEC and PABSEC.
The parliamentarian expressed confidence that the Joint Action Plan, which had been in the process of agreement for over two years, would be approved at the meeting of the PABSEC Standing Committee on November 25, 2015.
Kyrylenko said "Ukraine is committed to achieving major goals of the PABSEC, in particular, in the field of elaboration of legal framework for comprehensive development of cooperation in the region, assisting national parliaments in enhancement of parliamentary democracy and respect to human rights, development of economic contacts between the BSEC member countries.
At the same time, the escalation of the geopolitical situation in the region led to brutal violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty in the Black Sea region. Not only in Ukraine! Such situation may bring our Organization to a deadlock and complicate further development of comprehensive cooperation in our region."
"For Ukraine further implementation of some top-priority BSEC economic projects, in particular, in the fields of transport and tourism, would be possible only after restoration of its territorial integrity and sovereignty on the territories temporarily occupied by Russia," the parliamentarian said.
Preventing possible accusations of alleged politicization in the situation assessment, Kyrylenko reminded one of the BSEC's principles "to act in a spirit of friendship and good neighborliness and enhance mutual respect and confidence, dialogue and cooperation among the Member States."
The parliamentarian noted that general principles of the international law, as well as statutory principles of the Organization had been breached in the Black Sea region.
"Ukraine calls on BSEC member countries to acknowledge the obvious: today economic cooperation and development in the region are slowed down by the hostile policy. I'd like to remind that the international sanctions remain in force and affect all of us. Thus, all of us have to unite to restore peace in the region and we have to return to good neighborly relations between our countries," the people's deputy said.
Kyrylenko called on colleagues from other national delegations of the PABSEC to be consistent in this extremely important issue and where possible to prove ability to be committed to the principles of the international law and our Statute, peace dialogue between the peoples.
He also noted unacceptability of colleagues' visits to the occupied territories in violation of respective decisions of the European Union, United Nations (UN) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
According to the speaker, the International secretariat and its leadership can and should facilitate the PABSEC's authority.
Being a full member of the Organization, we draw attention to the fact that all of us have to unite more to fight for peace in our region. Over 300 million people expect that from us!" Kyrylenko said.