H.E. Ambassador Mr. Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey paid a working visit to the BSEC Headquarters in Istanbul, on 3 September 2012. Deputy Foreign Minister Koru announced the priorities of the Turkish Chairmanship-in-Office to the representatives of the BSEC Member States, Related Bodies, Observers and Sectorial Dialogue Partners.

Deputy Foreign Minister Koru said Turkey will do its utmost to achieve the common goals and further the cooperation on the priority areas identified in the 20th Anniversary Istanbul Summit Declaration. Emphasizing that Turkey attaches great importance to consolidating the role of the BSEC as a proactive, constructive and reliable actor in regional and international affairs Deputy Foreign Minister Koru stated that therefore Turkey will pay special attention to strengthening the cooperation with the international partners such as the United Nations, European Union, OECD as well as with the BSEC observers and sectorial dialogue partners.

Referring to the main theme of the Turkish Chairmanship-in-Office, “From Regional Cooperation to a Zone of Prosperity” Deputy Foreign Minister Koru said this theme will provide a comprehensive vision to activate the potential for achieving closer cooperation, greater stability and prosperity in the BSEC region.

Speech Delivered by Ambassador Mr. Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey on the Priorities of the Turkish Chairmanship-in-Office of the BSEC

Turkey has assumed the Chairmanship-in-Office of BSEC as of 1 July 2012 and as the new Chairman-in-Office, Turkey sets its priorities on intensifying cooperation on the following areas:

Update information on the calendar of events and activities to be carried out during the Turkish Chairmanship-in-Office can found at the website http://bsec.mfa.gov.tr/default.en.mfa