Ambassador Momcilo Babic and MP Igor Becic, attended the handover ceremony of the PABSEC Chairmanship to the Republic of Serbia, held on the 21st of June, at State Duma of the Russian Federation.

At the meeting there were representatives of the Federation Council: members of the Committee of the Federation Council Alexei Kondratenko and Nikolai Semisotov; representatives of the State Duma of the Russian Federation: President of the State Duma Committee Olga Timofeeva; First Deputy Chairman of the Committee Nikolai Kolomeytsev; Committee members Yevgeny Besonov, Mikhail Sheremet, Grigory Shilkin; Representatives of the State Duma Cabinet: Deputy Chief of Staff Sergei Karseka, Head of the Secretariat of the Deputy President of the State Duma Yevgeny Shianov, Chief Adviser of the Directorate for International Relations Irina Zolotareva, Chief Consultant of the Directorate for International Cooperation Valery Stavitsky, and Secretary General of the PABSEC Asaf Hadzijev. The President of the State Duma, Aleksandar Babakov, was prevented from attending this event due to illness.

During the meeting, current issues concerning the work of the organization were discussed, as well as preparations for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the PABSEC. Deputy Head of the Permanent Delegation of the Russian Federation PABSEC Alexei Kondratenko used this opportunity to wish Mr.  Becic success in his further work, and the President of the State Duma Committee for the Development of Society, Olga Timofejeva, emphasized the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation in the Black Sea region.

Becic said that taking over the presidency is a big deal for the National Assembly, and expressed his gratitude for support of Serbian territorial integrity and sovereignty. Becic underlined importance of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, which is mainly contributed by friendly relations between President Vucic and President Putin.