YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Within the framework of the OSCE summit in Istanbul president Robert Kocharian attended an unofficial summit of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.
In his remarks the president said that the BSEC summit held on the eve of the OSCE summit is symbolic. "Our participation in two important fora reflects the realities of modern Europe and testifies to its ability to unite groups of countries for the purpose of achieving common goals and interests," Kocharian said.
"As a young organization–the BSEC has already managed to become an effective mechanism of cooperation in Europe," Kocharian said. "This is testified to by the current institutional level of BSEC–the range of issues that fall under its competence–as well as the activity of BSEC in cooperation with other international organizations. Yet BSEC still has a long way to go," the president said.
Kocharian noted the importance of improving the legal framework of the Organization–and considered it necessary to form and maintain effective instrumen’s of interactions within BSEC and cooperation with other regional and European organizations. He–in particular–stressed that Armenia positively takes the process of extending cooperation between BSEC and the European Union.
Speaking of the progress achieved within BSEC–Kocharian noted that this progress may be ensured by the implementation of economically feasible and mutually-beneficial projects–particularly–those in the energy and transport sectors. According to the Armenian president–the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank plays an important role in these processes.
Attaching great importance to the assistance rendered by the Organization to support small and medium-sized businesses–establishment and expansion of mutually-beneficial cooperation among BSEC-member countries–Kocharian said: "Realizing that business circles are more efficient in fulfilling BSEC’s tasks–we have to pay attention to this side of the question."
In conclusion–Kocharian noted that Armenia joins the Declaration adopted at the BSEC summit–"viewing it as a reflection of major priorities of BSEC’s activities in the near future."
As a result of the meeting–the heads of BSEC-member countries adopted a Declaration.