Mr. Chairman,

Distinguished Colleagues,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to thank our hosts for organizing this historical event which is the first Black Sea-Europe meeting at the Ministerial level. It is a pleasure for me and my delegation to be in Kyiv on this occasion.

It is no surprise that the international focus on the Black Sea area is growing.

Analyzing and understanding the reasons behind the growing international and strategic importance of the Black Sea area can illuminate our path towards the future.

This area is an important region at the heart of three major continents. It is on strategic transport routes and energy corridors and it has significant economic and human potential as well as natural resources including energy.

All these reasons that highlight the importance of the region also draw our attention to the growing importance of preserving the stability and security. When the Cold War came to an end, Turkey took the lead to launch a regionally owned initiative and as a result the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) was established in 1992 on the idea that stronger economic cooperation among the Black Sea countries would enhance peace and the stability in the region. BSEC is the most inclusive and institutionalized forum in the Black Sea region today. Thanks to its inclusive approach, it has brought together all countries of the wider Black Sea area in a spirit of confidence and constructive cooperation.

The BSEC is viewed by the international community as an anchor of cooperation in the region. Current number of observer countries, which is higher than the members, is a proof to this fact.

Distinguished Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

When we come to the EU-BSEC relations, we all know that the EU Commission has recently been granted Observer status within the BSEC at the 15th Anniversary Summit of the Organization, which happened during Turkey’s BSEC Chairmanship-in-Office in İstanbul. This status will allow the EU to witness the activities of the BSEC and the opportunities and potential it offers for a mutually beneficial and fruitful cooperation between the two Organizations.

Already three BSEC members are members of the EU, namely Bulgaria, Romania and Greece, are also members of the EU, and the European Union has become a littoral of the Black Sea. Among the countries of the BSEC and the region, Turkey is negotiating for membership to the EU, the Russian Federation is a strategic partner of the EU and Georgia and Ukraine are Partners of the European Neighboring Policy.

BSEC is the only fully-fledged international organization in the region. This gives the EU side an opportunity for a wide range of interaction in many sectors where there is already a legal basis within the BSEC.

There may be differences among the countries of the Black Sea region. However, there are also so many common features and values that these countries share. The important point is to have all these countries in the wider Black Sea area around the same table. And only the BSEC manages that regularly. 

Mr. Chairman,

Distinguished Colleagues,

We believe that the establishment of an institutional relationship between the BSEC and the EU will serve the interests of both sides. This meeting may also be translated as the inauguration of this relationship.

Interregional cooperation should start with the areas where we can have enough potential for progress and benefits for all. Activities in the fields of environment, transport, energy, trade and combating organized crime would have direct effects and consequences on the lives our citizens. Also, in the areas of telecommunications as well as science and technology, there is potential in the form of existing projects that we can make use of.

There is a well established legal ground in the area of combating organized crime including human-trafficking within BSEC, which can serve as a basis for cooperation with the EU as well.

Infrastructure development is important as it is one of the preconditions for economic development. Recently two Memoranda of Understanding on the Coordinated Development of Black Sea Ring Highway and the Development of the Motorways of the Sea in the BSEC region were signed among the BSEC countries. These are important instruments that aim to develop land and maritime transport in the region and by so doing increasing intra and extra regional trade.  We believe that they will not only contribute to the development of Euro-Asian transport links, but foster trade, economic prosperity and tourism among the countries of the region and to bring them closer together.

The same approach also goes for the Trans-European energy networks. There are also many things we can do in the areas of energy and telecommunications infrastructure that would improve directly the quality of lives of the people in the region.

   Mr. Chairman,

   Distinguished Colleagues,

                I would like to state my conviction that our two organizations, BSEC and EU, will seize the opportunity for mutually beneficial results in the Black Sea region.

                As a last word, I would like to reiterate our thanks to Ukraine for the warm hospitality extended to us all.

                Thank you.