The "30th Anniversary of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation" and the "Meetings of the Permanent Committee, Presidency and 61st General Assembly" of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parliamentary Assembly (KEIPA) began in Ankara on May 4-5, 2023, hosted by the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Şentop. In his opening speech at the summit, TBMM Speaker Mustafa Şentop called for an end to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, saying, "This is a war with no winners. This war causes irreparable losses and damages not only for the people of Ukraine and Russia but also for our region and the whole world. Our wish is for this war, which is one of the most brutal wars that the Black Sea has ever seen, to end as soon as possible with a permanent and fair peace, without causing any more loss of life, destruction, and damage."

At the General Assembly, Cafer Okray, the Secretary-General of the Marmara Group Foundation, also gave a speech and presented information about civil society activities in the Black Sea region and the Eurasian Economic Summits.

Below is the text of Cafer Okray's speech:

Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of myself and the Marmara Group Foundation, allow me to express my sincerest greetings to all the esteemed members of parliament who have honored the 61st General Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization with their presence here today. 

As you are aware, this year our Republic celebrates its centennial anniversary.

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Türkiye, we also celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ankara becoming the capital.

With a sense of gratitude, I respectfully commemorate Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who gifted our Republic to the Turkish people 100 years ago and made Ankara the capital city.

Similarly, as a debt of gratitude, I would like to honor Haydar Aliyev, the former President of Azerbaijan and one of the contributors to the formation of Marmara Group Foundation's Eurasian Economic Summits, on the occasion of his 100th birthday with respect here today.

Dear Members of Parliament,

As the Marmara Group Foundation, we have been working in the field of peace and dialogue since 1985. Our Eurasian Economic Summits, which are an important part of our international activities and are organized with the high participation of PABSEC, have reached their 26th year this year.

Of the PABSEC member countries which had attended the 26th Eurasian Economic Summit; Albania, Northern Macedonia, Moldova and Romania participated with former Presidents; Azerbaijan with ministers and members of parliament; Moldova, Ukraine and Northern Macedonia with members of parliament; and Russia, Bulgaria and Serbia with civil society organizations and business people. General Secretary of PABSEC, Prof. Dr. Asaf Hadjiyev also honored our summit with his speeches.

I would like to express our heartfelt thankfulness to them.

As the Marmara Group Foundation, we carry out national and international events that put great importance to peace and cooperation.

Taking advantage of today's meeting, I would like to talk about the Belt and Road Initiative, which we attach great importance to and consider it as a duty to keep on the agenda.

The Silk Road project, beyond being a trade route or a historical and cultural value that connects Asia to Europe and Africa, also opens the door to an exceptional historical and cultural richness that carries the traces of cultures, religions, and races living in the Black Sea basin.

In broader terms, this project will not only contribute to the Black Sea economic region but also to international economy and trade. From a geoeconomic perspective, the Silk Road project will have the ability to bring China closer to European markets, and vice versa, through both land and sea routes,. Transportation that takes 45 days from China to Europe will be reduced to 15 days once this project is implemented.

We consider the Silk Road project, which will be realized through capital convergence, currency integration, and the improvement or restoration of infrastructure networks, especially railways and ports, to be a project of the era. This is because this project will create a new prosperity belt from Beijing to London.

Türkiye, located at the intersection point and being a country of the Black Sea, is one of the main actors of the Silk Road project and took part as a founding member in the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank established with a capital of 50 billion dollars.

Furthermore, Türkiye has implemented the Marmaray project, an underground and underwater railway system which connects Asia with Europe. It opened the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and established the Baku-Tiflis-Kars railway, which will connect Beijing to London.

When the Silk Road is completed, the strategic partnership between China and Türkiye will further develop.

Perhaps Pax Sinica will form in the region and pave the way for peace along the line extending from Central Asia to Europe.

The Marmara Group Foundation, of which I am the Secretary-General of, sees the "One Belt, One Road" project as the philosophy of our times.

I also believe that the One Belt, One Road project will create mutual trust, joint action, and strong will in more than sixty countries. This will make it easier to solve economic development problems. With this project, international security will also be strengthened.

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished members. With my belief that the Belt and Road initiative, which is one of the important projects of our future, will bring development, stability, and peace to the Black Sea Region, I greet you all with respect.

Thank you very much.