Ambassador Comanescu, Secretary General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC), “Turkiye is one of the most active among the BSEC members in terms of bringing up, launching and promoting initiatives.”
Ambassador Lazar Comanescu, Secretary General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC), stated that Turkiye is one of the key actors among the member states, “Turkiye has been one of the most active participants in decision-making in this organization, one of the most active among the BSEC members in terms of bringing up, launching and promoting initiatives.”
Comanescu, who made a statement to the AA correspondent on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the BSEC, headquartered in Istanbul, said that the organization was established on June 25, 1992 under the leadership of Turkiye to contribute to increasing stability, predictability and security in the region by promoting economic dialogue and cooperation among member states.
“The Black Sea family is in close cooperation”
Comanescu stated that important things have been accomplished when the organization’s history is looked at, and gave examples of the large-scale Black Sea Ring Road and Sea Highways projects, as well as the cooperation and projects developed in the field of environmental protection.
“The Black Sea family includes the BSEC as well as other relevant bodies.” Comanescu said:
“I am talking about the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parliamentary Assembly, the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, the International Center for Black Sea Studies and the BSEC Business Council. Black Sea family is a family of organizations, each of which is autonomous but in close cooperation. I think you will agree with me that combining efforts in the Black Sea region is a very, very strong foundation for prosperity, economic development, cooperation, peace, security and stability.”
Comanescu underlined that the 13-member organization brings together the representatives of the member states around the same table through more than 20 working groups on trade and development, environment, agriculture, energy, transport, infrastructure and so on, “This enables the exchange of information and ideas on developments in each of the member states. This creates bilateral or multilateral cooperation and opens up opportunities for the launch of projects.”
“Turkiye is one of the most active participants in decision making”
Pointing to the value Turkiye attaches to the BSEC, Comanescu said that the Republic of Turkiye is the host country of the BSEC.
Comanescu stated that, as the Secretary General, he thinks that the support of the Turkish authorities for the organization to carry out its activities in the best possible way deserves appreciation. “Turkiye has been one of the most active participants in decision-making in this organization, one of the most active among the BSEC members in terms of bringing up, launching and promoting initiatives.”
Comanescu stated that Turkiye will hold the term presidency of the organization for the next 6 months as of July 1, and said that the activities postponed and canceled due to the Russia-Ukraine War have resumed and that what has been done in the last two terms during Turkiye’s presidency will be improved.
Stating that he is confident that progress will be made in important projects within the framework of his consultations with the Turkish authorities, Comanescu said, “The first of these is the updating of the BSEC economic agenda, which constitutes the strategic framework for all the activities of the organization. I am sure that we can complete and accept this under the term presidency of Turkiye. There are many more, but Turkiye is one of the key actors of the organization.”
“Gas discoveries will lay the groundwork for stronger cooperation”
Commenting on the natural gas discoveries in the Black Sea, Comanescu emphasized that one of the BSEC’s priority fields of activity and cooperation is energy.
Noting that natural gas is one of the most important energy resources, Comanescu said, “Discovery of gas resources in the Black Sea region and then directly operating it will benefit the whole region. You know, gas reserves have been discovered in Romania and Bulgaria, along with Turkiye. This means that the groundwork will be laid for even stronger cooperation in the use of energy sources such as gas.”
Turkiye’s “Grain Corridor” diplomacy
Comanescu said that Turkiye’s effort within the framework of the Grain Corridor Agreement, which concerns the whole world, especially the countries in the region, deserves appreciation.
Pointing out that it would not have been possible to reach an agreement on grain without these opportunities or dialogue opportunities, Comanescu said:
“I must say here that the efforts of the Republic of Turkiye, together with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to initiate this dialogue between the two countries in conflict, ensured that this agreement was reached, which is extremely important not only for the countries concerned, but also for everyone in a world where mutual dependencies are getting stronger. We see that the supply of grain produced in Ukraine or Russia is extremely important for food security in other parts of the world.
Thanks to the efforts of actors such as the Republic of Turkiye, keeping the doors open has enabled this agreement to be made.
“Nothing is easy when you have two member states in direct conflict”
Comanescu pointed out that the BSEC members faced very serious difficulties in the functioning of the organization after February 24, 2022 regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine.
“Nothing is easy when you have two member states in direct conflict.” Comanescu said that many meetings and activities of the organization were postponed due to the Russia-Ukraine War.
BSEC Secretary General Comanescu continued his words as follows:
“However, I think this situation shows that this organization is a value in itself for the region. The fact that we were able to return to the same table as 13 member states in such a situation shows how useful this organization is. This shows that the organization has the capability to contribute, albeit modestly, to bringing the atmosphere of cooperation back to the region within the framework of new and ongoing projects.”
Comanescu stated that the BSEC, which was formed by the will of the countries of the region, acts with the principle of “open door”, he added that the countries with a coast to the Black Sea as well as those without a coast are already members of the organization and that the door of the BSEC is open to all countries that want to abide by the provisions of the founding documents in its charter.
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz