At a meeting in Antalya, Turkey, deputy parliamentary speakers of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan signed a protocol of intention to establish a Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-Speaking Countries on February 22, Ferghana reported on the same day. 

The purpose of the Assembly, according to the information source, is to strengthen cooperation between the member parliaments, as well as to “coordinate political views, exchange ideas, and realize joint projects."

The official agreement on the Parliamentary Assembly is set to be signed in May at a meeting of parliament chairmen.  Other Turkic-speaking countries could also potentially sign the protocol and join the Assembly, reports the news source.

This information was originally published on February 22, 2008 (www.ferghana.ru)