Turkic-Speaking Body Can Contribute To Eurasian Peace'

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu





Turkish parliament's deputy speaker said on Wednesday that the success of an inter-parliamentary body among Turkic-speaking countries would contribute to Eurasia's future and peace.





"We do not see TURKPA [Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Speaking Countries] the same way we would other international organizations," Mustafa Sentop said at a TURKPA event in the capital Ankara.





Turkey accepts TURKPA as its "own assembly", noting the importance of such bodies as platforms for alternative political discussion, he said.



Sentop expressed the desire for Uzbekistan -- currently participating as a guest -- to become a full member, or at least an observer, of the organization.





He also said efforts for Turkmenistan to join the assembly "in the short term" as a guest should continue.





The first plenary session of TURKPA was held in the Azerbaijani capital Baku in September 2009, with its secretariat authority based in the same city.





TURKPA is an international organization established in Istanbul in November 2008, according to the agreement signed by the parliament heads of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. -