NEW PACE PRESIDENT, MEVLUT CAVUSOGLU

For the first time in the history of the Council of Europe, a Turkish parliamentarian has been elected as the new President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). AK Party Chairman of the Turkish Delegation to the PACE and Antalya MP Mevlut Cavusoglu has been appointed as the President of PACE.

In his written message, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis congratulated Cavusoglu for being elected as the new President of PACE.

In his message Bagis noted: "I wish you continued success in your endeavours as the new President of the PACE which is the heart of democracy."

Bagis reminded that for the first time, a Turkish parliamentarian had been elected as the President of the PACE which consisted of members coming from 49 different countries of Europe. Bagis pointed to the importance of this occasion for Turkey which is carrying out EU accession negotiations.

Bagis stated that the responsibility undertaken by Mr. Cavusoglu was an important indicator of the contribution of Turkey, which was one of the founding members of CoE, to the core European values. Bagis said that beyond these, it had been a good example of the fact that Turkey would not be burden for the EU but would take the burden, as our Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

In his message Bagis also noted:

"Turkey continues to take important steps in order to reach the level of the contemporary civilizations as the founder of our Republic, Ataturk pointed as a target. Moreover, after the election of a Turkish parliamentarian as the President of PACE, Turkey proved that it pioneers in Europe in the struggle for human rights, freedom and democracy. I sincerely re-congratulate and thank Mr. Mevlut Cavusoglu for the sense of pride he caused and I declare every kind of support in his great task as a President."

Source: AA