Turkish MP from AK party elected as new PACE president

A Turkish parliamentarian will be elected new president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the first time in history.

Mevlut Cavusoglu of the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party, who also heads the Turkish delegation at the PACE, will replace Lluis Maria de Puig of Spain during Monday's voting at the PACE.

Cavusoglu, who was nominated by the European Democrat Group, is the only candidate for the post.

A Turkish parliamentarian will head PACE for the first time in its history. Turkey is
one of the founder members of the PACE which was established in 1949.

Cavusoglu is expected to hold a news conference following the voting.

After election of Cavusoglu, Turkey will take over rotating presidency of the Council of Europe's decision-making body, the Committee of Ministers, for six months.

Meanwhile, Turkish State Minister & chief negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis will come to Strasbourg to watch the voting and to hold a series of talks.

He is set to hold talks with the president of the PACE and secretary-general of the Council of Europe.

/AzerTac/