Second Plenary Session of TURKPA
April 27, 2011 – April 28, 2011
Astana

II Plenary Session of TURKPA held on 27-28 April in Astana, capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, has been successfully completed. The Plenary Session was devoted to the 20th anniversary of independence of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, having adopted important decisions.

The Plenary Session was attended by the delegation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, headed by Mr. Oqtay Asadov, Chairman of the Parliament (Milli Majlis) of Azerbaijan, delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, headed by Mr. Ural Mukhamedzhanov, Chairman of Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, and Mr. Kayrat Mami, Chairman of Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, delegation of the Kyrgyz Republic, headed by Mr. Ahmetbek Keldibekov, Chairman of the Parliament (Jogorku Kenesh) of Kyrgyzstan, delegation of the Republic of Turkey, headed by Mr. Mehmet Ali Şahin, Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

In capacity of special quest the Plenary Session was attended by Mr. Mahmut Erol Kılıç, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Union of the OİC Member States (PUIC), Ambassador Halil Akıncı, Secretary General of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking states (Turkic Council), Mr. Serhat Varlı, Deputy Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), and Mr. Fırat Purtaş, Deputy Secretary General of TURKSOY.

The meetings of the TURKPA Council and II Plenary Session were held on 27 and 28 April 2011 accordingly. The Chairmanship in TURKPA was handed over from the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Kazakhstan at the meeting of the TURKPA Council on 27 April 2011.

During the meetings of TURKPA Council and Plenary Session the 2010 progress report of Secretary General was endorsed by the Assembly, 2011-2012 draft budget was presented, information on activities of the TURKPA International Observers Missions on the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as on the extraordinary presidential elections in Kazakhstan, were heard, official flag and emblem of TURKPA was adopted, application of the PUIC on granting an observer status in TURKPA was taken into consideration and approved by the Assembly.

The Assembly conducted election of the representative of the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan for the position of TURKPA Deputy Secretary General and adopted decision on organizing III Plenary Session in May-June 2012 in Bishkek, capital of the Kyrgyz Republic.

At the same time, significant amendments and changes have been made to the TURKPA Rules of Procedure and Regulations that is an essential step for the structure of our organization in advancing international standards.

In accordance with adopted amendments to the TURKPA Rules of Procedure, TURKPA four permanent commissions have been established. Chairmen of the newly established Permanent Commissions on Economic, Trade and Financial Issues, on Legal Issues, on International Relations, as well as on Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Issues, were elected at the Plenary Session.

Activities and competences of the permanent commissions have been determined in conformity with new Rules of Procedure.

The special provision on the activities of the TURKPA International Observers Mission in non-member countries and, in case of necessity, observation of elections jointly with other international organizations, has been added to the TURKPA Rules of Procedure.

With the view of facilitating activities of the Permanent Commissions the position of Secretaries of Permanent Commissions was set up, determining their functions and competences in accordance with adopted amendments and changes to the TURKPA Regulations.

Provisions on defining a status of TURKPA Secretary General, Deputies Secretary General and Secretaries of Commission, as an international officer, also have been introduced to the TURKPA Regulations.

The ceremony of signing the special Protocol on the amendments and changes to the Istanbul Agreement, as the basic TURKPA establishing document, was solemnly held on 27 April 2011 in Astana. The special Protocol on the amendments and changes to the Istanbul Agreement was signed by Mr. Oqtay Asadov on behalf of the Parliament of Azerbaijan, by Mr. Ural Mukhamedzhanov on behalf of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, by Mr. Ahmetbek Keldibekov on behalf of the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan and by Mr. Mehmet Ali Şahin on behalf of the Parliament of Turkey.

Following the amendments and changes to the Istanbul Agreement, English has become the official language of TURKPA, as one of the UN official languages, number of members of delegations of member countries has been increased from 7 to 9 and the Chairman of Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan was included as a member of the TURKPA Council.

At the end of the Plenary Session it was held a press conference of the Chairmen of TURKPA Member Parliaments and singed the Astana Declaration -final document of the Second Plenary Session of TURKPA.

Declaration