Ukrainian delegation disrupts Russian speech at BSEC summit in Ankara
A diplomatic row erupted at the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Parliamentary Assembly summit in Ankara on Thursday, when the Ukrainian delegation tried to sabotage the speech of their Russian counterparts.
The Russian delegation’s head, Olga Timofeyeva, told reporters that the Ukrainian delegates hung flags and shouted insults during her speech, in an attempt to provoke and politicize the event.
Timofeyeva said that she wanted to express her point of view on the issues of regional cooperation and security, but was interrupted by the unruly behavior of the Ukrainian delegates.
She accused Ukraine of violating the principles and norms of parliamentary diplomacy, and said that Russia had a different task than Ukraine at the summit.
“Our task is not to politicize the process, which Ukraine did today, but to contribute to the development of dialogue and cooperation in the Black Sea region,” she said.
The BSEC summit, which was held in Turkey’s capital on Thursday, brought together parliamentarians from 12 member states to discuss economic and social issues affecting the region.
The summit was also attended by representatives from observer countries and international organizations.
The BSEC was established in 1992 as a platform for multilateral cooperation among the countries bordering the Black Sea.
Its members are Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.
