On 25 June 1992,the Heads of State and Government of eleven countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine signed in Istanbul the Summit Declaration and the Bosphorus Statement giving birth to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).

It came into existence as a unique and promising model of multilateral political and economic initiative aimed at fostering interaction and harmony among the Member States, as well as to ensure peace, stability and prosperity encouraging friendly and good-neighbourly relations in the Black Sea region.

The BSEC Headquarters - the Permanent International Secretariat of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC PERMIS) - was established in March 1994 in Istanbul.

With the entry into force of its Charter on 1 May 1999, BSEC acquired international legal identity and was transformed into a full-fledged regional economic organization : ORGANIZATION OF THE BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION. With the accession of Serbia and Montenegro in April 2004, the Organization’s Member States increased to twelve.

Facts about the BSEC Region:

 It is becoming Europe’s major transport and energy transfer corridor.

About these facts and other matters we have scheduled a brief interview with Ambassador Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos (Secretary General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation).

Currently, what are the main points on the agenda of BSEC?

Presently, Armenia holds the Chairmanship-in-Office of BSEC. The priorities of the Chairmanship are the enhancement of cooperation in the energy sector, the development of transport cooperation in the region, as well as cooperation on environmental issues.

During Armenia’s six-month Chairmanship-in-Office of BSEC until the end of April 2009, BSEC will also work towards joining efforts with the international community and international organizations to overcome the ongoing global financial crisis.

The further improvement of the efficiency, effectiveness and visibility of BSEC is also of particular importance. The implementation of joint projects in the fields of information technology, SMEs, institutional renewal, agro-industry, science, social life, emergency assistance and combating organize crime constitute yet another priority on the BSEC agenda.

The Black Sea region is quite complex due its history and political dynamics. How can a road map be planned to assure that a satisfactory level of cooperation is achieved which covers all the region?

The countries in the region have different policies on certain issues and they have varying levels of economic development. Their priorities do not always coincide. In order to have a satisfactory and sustainable level of cooperation, it is important to find common denominators. This is what we work for: to find, elaborate and develop projects in common areas of interest for all the Member States.

In this regard, one of the main objectives in mind is to maximize the potential that the region holds. This was also one of the underlying objectives when BSEC was first launched back in 1992. The success of BSEC depends on the concreteness and effective implementation of common projects.

Currently, there are two BSEC projects of major significance for the countries in the Black Sea area, as well as the Eurasian region. These are the Black Sea Ring Highway project and the project on the development the Motorways of the Sea in the BSEC region. They are related to the development of transport links in the region. They are expected to do much to foster intra-BSEC trade, as well as tourism, infrastructure and transport investments and economic prosperity among the countries of the Black Sea. Most importantly, they will make a concrete difference in the lives of the people of the region and bring them closer together.

How can ethnic problems of the area be balanced, taking into consideration the strategic importance of the region?

BSEC was established on the idea that stronger economic cooperation among the Black Sea countries would enhance peace and stability in the region.

Within this framework, cooperation in the fields of culture, tourism, transport infrastructure projects, institutional renewal and good governance, cross border cooperation through stream lined border controls, custom procedures and visa facilitation, combating organized crime and terrorism all contribute to the strengthening of security and stability in the region.

If joint projects could be devised and implemented effectively to solve economic issues, strong and sustainable cooperation and relations might be facilitated regardless of ethnic differences.

Frozen conflicts in the region, to a certain extent, do pose an obstacle to the BSEC cooperation process. BSEC has not tackled with the frozen conflicts of the region, since it is not empowered to do so by its Charter. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that BSEC serves as a useful forum where the representatives of Member States, some of which do not have diplomatic relations between them or have serious bilateral political or other problems, meet. BSEC’s contribution to the security in the region is an indirect one.

In which fields do you collaborate with the European Union?

Enhancing cooperation with the EU constitutes one of our priorities. The Commission of the European Communities is an Observer in BSEC since 2007.

Within the framework of our Organization, the Ad hoc Group of Experts on BSEC-EU Interaction deals with the elaboration of cooperation with the EU. Currently, the possibilities of establishing sectoral partnerships in the areas of environment and transport are being explored between the two sides.

Our objective is to have an enhanced institutionalized framework for BSEC-EU interaction.

Thank you Ambassador Chrysanthopoulos.

For further information:

Black Sea Economic Cooperation