Becic: Serbia confident Russia-Ukraine challenges in PABSEC will be resolved

BELGRADE - The deputy president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) Igor Becic said on Wednesday Serbia was confident challenges between two PABSEC member states, Russia and Ukraine, would be resolved within the organisation at upcoming meetings.

Becic said this in a statement to Tanjug following a decision by Russia's delegation to walk out of a PABSEC General Assembly meeting in Belgrade in a reaction to a request by the Ukrainian delegation that the mandates of Russian assembly members not be extended and to the conduct of Ukrainian representatives at the session.

He said a number of delegations in attendance had declined to approve the mandates of assembly members from the Russian delegation and that the delegation had "left the conference and said it will not continue to pay contributions to the organisation."

Becic said Serbia, its government and President Aleksandar Vucic were advocating peace, stability and dialogue as a means of resolving all open issues.

He said regional cooperation was one of Serbia priorities and that the country would continue to support all mechanisms promoting cooperation and coordination in the wider Black Sea region.

Serbia also advocates strict respect of international law and all PABSEC normative documents, which it was governed by at the session, Becic said.

"The Serbian delegation expresses the confidence that existing challenges between the member states will be resolved within the organisation, at meetings in the coming period," he said.