Chairman, Mr. I would like to thank my distinguished colleague, H. Distinguished Colleagues, Throughout its 21 years of existence, the interest of the international community towards this region has been growing.
BSEC is regarded as an important contributor to peace and stability in the region and beyond by bringing together all countries of the wider Black Sea area together in a spirit of close cooperation. We are in a rapidly changing global landscape.
It is characterized by the diffusion of power, the continuing fragile world economic situation and the rise of the emerging economies. Regional cooperation is and will remain a key factor in driving forward the necessary solutions to economic issues of our time. In this sense, regional cooperation has today gained unprecedented importance. As a mature regional cooperation organization in one of the strategically critical geographies of the world, BSEC has a unique standing in this context.
More than two decades ago, BSEC was born with the vision of making use of economic cooperation to implant a culture of partnership among participating states.
That was the idea behind. That is the idea still behind it. At the same time, BSEC is an invaluable tool for connecting the Balkans and Caucasus by vital transport and trade projects to transform the Black Sea region into an area of peace, stability and prosperity. In spite of these unique advantages, the full potential of BSEC remains unmet. For ensuring the sustainability and visibility of BSEC, we must improve our interaction in all its dimensions, taking on board all stakeholders; inter-governmental, inter-parliamentary, business, financial and academic circles, as well as civil society.
