01 July 2011, 10:30
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, President of PABSEC expects the Plenary Session of the PABSEC General Assembly to contribute to the development of inter-parliamentary cooperation and strengthen all forms of interaction between the Black Sea region states.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Thirty Seventh Plenary Meeting of PABSEC General Assembly, V. Lytvyn declared that PABSEC is an authoritative international organization. The Assembly actively develops cooperation with other international and regional inter-parliamentary institutions, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, PACE, OSCE PA, European Parliament, NATO PA, CIS IPA, CEI Parliamentary Dimension.
"Our further success depends upon common efforts aimed at neighbourly cooperation, stable economic development, mutual exchange of technological and cultural achievements, and care for the environment," he stated.
The Black Sea Economic Cooperation will shortly celebrate its 20th anniversary, so V.Lytvyn is convinced that in 2012 the Organization will sum up its experience and solve the pressing issues.
In the context of the recent events in the Southern Mediterranean Region, V. Lytvyn placed emphasis on "exemplary solidarity" of the Black Sea region states as to humanitarian assistance.
Among the essential tasks for the Black Sea Region, V. Lytvyn singled out the matters of technotronic security.
V. Lytvyn emphasized that special attention to the matters of 'green economy' during the PABSEC session is a sign of active and conscious efforts to protect the future and meet the needs of environmental protection in the region. The President focused on the environmental approach to the solution of problems in the national economy of Ukraine.
PABSEC President stressed that importance of cooperation between the region states on the environmental protection necessitates broad cooperation in the sphere of science, technologies and education. "Our states have a number of authoritative educational establishments that shall become the research centers to protect beauty of our state and health of our citizens. Such cooperation is well-grounded, as there is a network of Black Sea universities which can tackle the above-mentioned issues", he believes.
V. Lytvyn supposes that the Assembly could strengthen its work in the spheres of cultural cooperation in the Black Sea Region. "Attention to the historical heritage of our states will facilitate better understanding of our economic partners", the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stated.