Turkic countries' leaders to discuss free trade zone

The establishment of a free trade zone will be in spotlight of the Baku summit of the leaders of Turkic-speaking countries.

Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking Countries (TURKPA) Ramil Hasanov told Trend news agency on Saturday that the issue is on the agenda of the summit.

"If the heads of state adopt a common decision on this issue, TURKPA will take concrete steps to legalize them," Hasanov said.

Issues such as lifting customs duties between member states of the organization as well as the project on creating free trade zones were discussed during the meeting of the TURKPA Commission on Economic, Trade and Financial Affairs this year.

Moreover, Azerbaijan's capital Baku will host the summit of TURKSOY dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the organization on August 15-16 and the next session of the TURKPA Parliamentary Assembly in 2014.

Established in 2009 in Baku, TURKPA is the parliamentary union of Turkic-speaking countries whose purpose is to form the mechanism of inter-parliamentary relations among the Turkic countries, promote the convergence of political views, exchange of information, Turkic culture, the expansion of economic ties, the implementation of joint projects, and to seek solutions to the problems facing the Turkic world.
The secretariat of the organization is based in Baku. The secretariat is comprised of the secretary general, his deputies from Turkey and Kazakhstan and a group of experts.

The members of TURKPA are Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Adapted from TODAY.AZ