ISTANBUL HOSTS 1ST CONFERENCE OF PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF TURKIC-SPEAKING COUNTRIES
Baku 23 November

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
November 23, 2008 Sunday

The 1st Conference of Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking
countries was held Friday in Istanbul, Turkey.

In his inauguration address, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said the
idea of establishment of Turkic-speaking countries` Parliamentary
Assembly was initiated by Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

According to him, heads of Turkic-speaking countries supported the
idea of setting up the Parliamentary Assembly`s Permanent Secretary
which will be located in Turkey. The issue, he added, will be discussed
during the Assembly`s second summit to be held in Baku next year.

He also expressed confidence the Baku summit would be very important
to strengthen cooperation among Turkic-speaking countries.

President Gul stressed fraternal Turkic countries had recently carried
out major energy and transport projects which are vivid evidence of
successful cooperation among these countries.

Gul also expressed hope the first conference would inject an impetus to
friendly and cooperative relations among members of the Parliamentary
Assembly.

Attending the event, Speaker of Azerbaijan Milli Majlis Ogtay Asadov
said the Parliamentary Assembly`s establishment would contribute to
deepening cooperation among Turkic-speaking countries` parliaments.

Ogtay Asadov stressed his country attaches special importance to
strengthening solidarity throughout the Turkic world.

Azerbaijani MP Nizami Jafarov said common problems of the Turkic
world such as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the so-called Armenian
genocide could only be resolved by making joint efforts.

He expressed hope Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan would join the
Parliamentary Assembly in the future.

Signing the Agreement on establishment of the Parliamentary Assembly
of Turkic-speaking countries were Chairman of Turkish Grand National
Assembly Koksal Toptan, Milli Majlis Speaker Ogtay Asadov, Kazakhstan`s
Senate Vice Speaker Mukhambet Kopeyev, Speaker of Kyrgyz parliament
Aytibay Tagayev.

On the sidelines of the conference, Ogtay Asadov met with Turkish
President Abdullah Gul, TGNA Speaker Koksal Toptan and others.