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Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan Refuse to Join Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking States

Society Materials 31 March 2008 16:32 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, 31 March /corr. Trend I.Alizade / Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan has refused to join the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking States.

"There is a difference between Turkmenistan, Turkey and Kazakhstan. Therefore, these countries refuse to join the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic-speaking States," the national secretary of Azerbaijan in the working group to establish the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic-speaking States, Sayad Aleskerov, reported to Trend .

The first meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Council of the Turkic-speaking States took place on 21-22 March in Antalya. During the meeting, a protocol on intentions was signed with regards to the establishment of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic-speaking States. The meeting was attended by representatives of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Aleskerov said that Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan had refused to join the meeting of the working group to establish the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic-speaking States, which took place in Astana two days ago.

"The Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Popular Assembly of Turkey will visit Ashgabat and Tashkent to hold talks regarding Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan joining the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic-speaking States," the national secretary said.

According to him, during the meeting in Astana, the documents were co-ordinated to establish the Assembly. In addition, Aleskerov said that during the meeting, there were discussions on issues specified in the protocol on intentions signed in Antalya. " Kazakhstan opposed the establishment of the secretariat of the Assembly, arguing that funds have not been allocated from the Public budget. However, Kazakhstan's protest was linked with the location of the secretariat in Turkey. Kazakhstan attempted to take all initiatives in its hands to establish the Assembly," Aleskerov said.

The meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic-speaking States will take place at least once a year. Aleskerov said that the first meeting of the Assembly will take place in Turkey.

"The Chairmanship to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic-speaking States will be taken in turn for a period of one year and the Assembly meeting will take place in that country. The language during the Assembly will be in line with the language of the country chairing the meeting at that time," Aleskerov said.

According to him, seven MPs will be represented at the Assembly from each country. The decisions in the Assembly will be made based on the consensus.

Non-Turkic-speaking states are also able to join the Assembly. In addition, the MPs, Turk by origin, from various countries may be represented at the Assembly as consultants.

The closing decision to establish the Assembly will be made at the meeting of the chairmen of the parliaments of the Turkic-speaking States which will take place in the near future.

The establishment of the Assembly is aimed at creating a single system as a parliamentary union and achieving conformity of political views, exchanging experiences and implementing joint projects.

The correspondent can be contacted at: [email protected]

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