Friday, 18 January 2013
OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE TO THE GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TURKEY
In the framework of the bilateral cooperation between the Parliaments of the Republic of Macedonia and Turkey and on initiative of the Co-Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee Republic of Macedonia-European Union, a Delegation of the Assembly Committee visited officially the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The Delegation, composed of Mr. Kenan Hasipi - Co-Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, Ms. Silvana Boneva and Mr. Aleksandar Spasenovski - members of the Committee, and Ms. Deshira Imeri - deputy member of the Committee, had several meetings with their colleagues from the host country.
The Macedonian parliamentarians met with Mr. Arif Demirk?ran, Co-Chairman of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, and exchanged experiences regarding the work of the Committees. The parliamentarians from the two countries exchanged information about the work of their bodies that have the key role in the parliaments for the Euro-integration process. Mr. Kenan Hasipi informed the hosts about the functioning of the Joint Parliamentary Committee Republic of Macedonia-European Union. They also discussed the challenges facing the Committees and the manner of communication with their colleagues from the European Parliament, the coordination and harmonization of the final recommendations and amendments, as well as other issues in the field of their work.
They also exchanged experiences regarding the work of the Secretariats that share the work and obligations with the parliamentarians.
Mr. Mehmet Tekelioglu, Chairman of the Committee on EU Harmonisation, informed the guests about the work of his Committee, pointing out that the members of the Committee on EU Harmonisation are also members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The members of the Macedonian Delegation informed the host about the work of the Committee on European Affairs of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia. They emphasized the importance of having close and intensive contacts between the two Parliaments in order to exchange experiences and provide assistance and support in the key moments of the European integration of the two countries.
The Delegation also met with Mr. Huseyin Burge, Chairman of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Turkey-Macedonia, and expressed satisfaction with the positive experiences from the cooperation in the past. Both sides underlined the importance of the close cooperation between the parliamentary groups for cooperation which strengthens further the true friendship that exists between the two countries.
The Delegation of the Assembly also had a friendly ad cordial meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Turkey-Macedonia Mr. Ismail Kasdemir, and shared with him the conviction that the contacts and cooperation between the parliamentary friendship groups will continue in future with the same positive dynamics and in the spirit of the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries.
At the meeting with Mr. Ismail Safi, Head of the Delegation of the Turkish Parliament to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC), the members of the Delegation emphasized the Macedonian Euro-Atlantic aspirations and expressed appreciation for the selfless support that Turkey is giving to the Republic of Macedonia. They also exchanged views regarding the fact that the Republic of Macedonia has for the past 20 years been invited to participate in the work of PABSEC, but unfortunately because of the well-known reasons regarding the dispute over the name with Greece it has never participated in the meetings of this Organization. Mr. Safi expressed hope that a positive solution will be found in near future and recommended further efforts by the Republic of Macedonia for full integration in the PABSEC structures.
The Macedonian Delegations also had meetings with representatives of several Directorates of the Grand National Assembly and was informed about the functioning of the Staff, the coordination of the activities and the support it provides to the parliamentarians and the Committees and Delegations, as well as about other aspects of their work.