Friday, 9th October 2009, Athens
Macedonian Delegation at the Parliamentary Conference on “Energy Security and the Environment”
The Delegation of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia participated at the fall meetings of the OSCE PA, held from 9th to 11th October 2009 in Athens, Greece. The Delegation was composed of: Mr. Andrej Petrov (SDSM) - Head of Delegation, Mr. Vladimir Gjorčev (VMRO-DPMNE), and Mr. Hisen Xhemaili (DUI).
The Parliamentary Conference “Energy Security and Environment” was held in the framework of the fall meetings of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE. Mr. Andrej Petrov took part at the first session dedicated to the regional cooperation in the energy sector. He pointed out that the cooperation in the field of energy, and especially in the vulnerable regions such as the Balkans, is not only important, but clearly shows the importance of energy for the development, integration and inclusion of the region in the EU. He reiterated the commitments from the Agreement on Establishing the Energy Community for Regional Cooperation, signed in Athens in 2005, for establishment of an integrated market for electricity and natural gas, as well as for establishing a regulatory framework for the energy market, which will function by the rules applicable in the EU, aiming to fully integrate the Region in the EU.
About 200 MPs from 56 OSCE Member States participated at the conference. The PA of OSCE President, Mr. Joao Soares, the President of the Parliament of Greece, Mr. Dimitris Sioufas, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the newly formed Greek Government, Mr. Spyros Kouvelis, had introductory addresses at the conference.