On behalf of the Marmara Group Dr. Akkan Suver and Hon. Şamil Ayrım attended the 45^th General Asembly of the Parliementary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic  Cooperation in the Presidency Palace in Chisinau, Moldova. Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova H.E. Adrian Candu started the General Assembly of the BSEC which was under the presidency of Secretary General Prof. Dr. Asaj Hajiyev.

Later on, during the morning session, after the speech of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova Ms. Natalia Gherman , on behalf of the Marmara Group Foundation Dr. Akkan Suver delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of the Silk Road.

Speech of Dr.Akkan Suver, President of the Marmara Group Foundation, on the 45^th General Assembly of PABSEC

I would like to salute your high delegation on behalf of the Marmara Group Foundation which represents the civil thought on the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation session to be held on today.

And I extend my gratitude to our host, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova for the great hospitality

Now, I am here for emphasizing the importance of associating the Silk Road with this great collaboration of the Black Sea which was composed by your high presence.

As Marmara Group Foundation we attach great importance to the ilk Road Economic Belt Project. As a matter of fact I would like to say that, Silk Road Project is the Project of the age.

Releasing to the public in 2013 by the President of the People's Republic of China H.E. Xi Jinpin, is civilization Project. In other words, Silk Road is the economic development, culture and peace project.

President Xi Jinpin’s project which vitalizes the trade and the economy between East and the West over the Silk Road as well as in the neighboring countries is highly approved inside the People’s Republic of China.

Eurasia and Caucasian countries and my country Turkey also cordially support this Project.

On the other hand, recent events brought the issues in Middle East and Caspian more strategic condition. In this strategic atmosphere there is the opportunity of combining the Pacific Ocean with the Black Sea.

Black Sea countries should approach to the Silk Road as a peace and prosperity Project. Especially all the unities that carry the Silk Road to Central and Northern Europe will pass over the Black Sea.

Together with this Project cultures will be engaged and build bridged by themselves as well as the energy, economy, industry, tourism., and will open new doors and cause innovative cooperation.

Yesterday there was silk. Alongside the silk, there was spice.

Today there is energy. There are industrial products. There is tourism.

There are railways which will make these all together.

Likewise the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline that carries the Caucasus oil to the Mediterranean.

Just as the railway which lengthens from Beijing to Tashkent, from Tashkent to Baku, from Baku to Tbilisi, from Tbilisi to Kars, from Kars to Istanbul, from Istanbul and under the Marmara Sea passing over Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece to London.

Just as the TAP Project transferring the Azerbaijan’s oil to Turkey, from Turkey to Greece, from there to Albania and from Albania to Central and North Europe with TANAP Project…

I believe that, reviving the Silk Road which was closed form an centuries will have major contribution and positive effects on the Black Sea’s economic development.

Because the Black Sea region is the central point where the continents and the values come together. While reviving the Great Silk Road, there will be new-built roads that will approach the other regions of the world to here. We observe the road contractions that connecting China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Georgia to the Black Sea are realizing.

Including economy, trade, tourism, transportation, investment, finance and culture, this extensive Silk Road Project, as well as it is a bridge of hope, it is also a peace and prosperity Project. Therefore, Black Sea countries should be prepared to actively take part in the Silk Road project as soon as possible.

With this belief, I would like to greet your high delegation with respect on behalf of my friends and me.