“The fight against organized crime and international terrorism is a top priority,” Ognyan Gerdzhikov, Bulgarian Parliamentary speaker, said at the 5th session of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation's Council of Foreign Ministers on October 26. He noted that the terrorist acts target basic universal ideals and values and declared his conviction that all Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) countries will contribute to the fight against terrorism. As far as the agenda for BSEC's development is concerned, Gerdzhikov said that the Parliamentary Assembly has already started to discuss issues related to the Black Sea region. Globalization, the challenges facing BSEC and the strengthening of peace and stability in the region through economic integration will be the main topics for discussion at the 18th General Assembly that will be hosted by Bulgaria. The 18th General Assembly will adopt a recommendation to the Council of Ministers on the passage of laws and on improving existing legislation on farming development. The Parliamentary Assembly will intensify cooperation with BSEC, the BSEC business council, the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, the International Center for Black Sea Research and the network of Black Sea universities. Later in the day Ognyan Gerdzhikov met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Anatoli Zlenko. The latter will chair the Council of Ministers when his country takes over the rotating BSEC presidency.