On the occasion Gojkovic said how glad she was that the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia hosted the 48th General Assembly and that Belgrade was the place where the need for reform in the wider Black Sea region was reaffirmed once again.

The National Assembly Speaker said that, during its six-month presidency of PABSEC, Serbia promoted developing regional cooperation, raising the organisation’s efficiency and visibility, and strengthening its international status.

“We will continue to work on strengthening the organisation and the ties among its member states, because we are committed to the development of friendly relations with the member states, stability in the region and advancement of an economic and political climate conducive to cooperation.”

Gojkovic is sure that the Serbian delegation would continue to contribute to the Parliamentary Assembly’s work and that the successful cooperation between the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and the Parliamentary Assembly, as well as with the member states of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, would continue in the coming period. Upon taking over the presidency, Ӧmer Serdar, member of the Bureau of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey, said that continuing the dialogue among the BSEC members states is paramount, at the same time highlighting the importance of interparliamentary cooperation.

“It is important to maintain ties and dialogue between the parliaments, to keep them cooperating”, said Serdar.

Serdar said he was most pleased to be taking over the presidency in Belgrade from Maja Gojkovic, whom he congratulated on all she had done.

In the course of the General Assembly, 29 November – 1 December, the parliamentarians adopted recommendations on “International Investments in the BSEC Member States”, “Role of Religion in Fight against Terrorism and Extremism in the BSEC Member States” and “Education and Science for Sustainable Development in the BSEC Member States”.

Besides Serbia, the General Assembly was also attended by the delegations of the member states - Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine.