Bulgaria assumed the rotating Chairmanship-in-office of BSEC
12 December 2013 News
It is an honour and a great responsibility to assume the Chairmanship-in-Office of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic cooperation. During the next six months Bulgaria will spare no effort to further advance the development of multilateral economic cooperation in the Black Sea region. This was said by Minister Kristian Vigenin on the official ceremony on assumingthe BSEC rotating Chairmanship-in-office by Bulgaria (1 January - 30 June 2014).
In continuation and recognition of the successful work accomplished by the previous Chairmanship-in-Office, we will endeavor to enhance the effectiveness and visibility of the Organization by promoting a project oriented approach, encouraging the continuing strengthening of interaction with the BSEC related bodies and partners, and supporting the further increase of the operational capacity of the Organization,” added Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister.
“Bulgaria shall endeavor for making the Organization more visible with the European Union, and for promoting a closer, efficient and mutually beneficial dialogue between BSEC and the EU,” he added.
According to Minister Vigenin, the ultimate goal of Bulgaria’s efforts as Chair-in-Office will be to make use of the significant potential of theOrganization for promoting cooperation, prosperity, political and economic stability in the wider Black Sea region in the spirit of understanding and common will. “I am optimistic that with the support of all the Member-states, the Bulgarian presidency will be a success and together we can reach our common,ambitious goals,” he said in conclusion.
The focus of the discussion was on the bilateral relations , especially in relation to the opportunities for intensification of the trade and economic cooperation . Both ministers shared the opinion that it is necessary to strengthen the political high-level contacts, as a step in this direction will be the visit of Edward Nalbandian in Bulgaria in the first half of next year.
Kristian Vigenin held a meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. They highly appreciated the positive implementation of the measures agreed at their meeting in Ankara in October, in relation to the increased migration flow of Syrian refugees to Bulgaria. A meeting of the Joint Commission on the outstanding issues in bilateral relations will be held next week in Sofia, and in the beginning of next year there will be a meeting of the Central Joint Bulgarian-Turkish Border Commission.
Minister Vigenin welcomed the decision of the Turkish government to sign a readmission agreement with the EU. In turn, the Turkish Foreign Minister noted the positive impact that the visa liberalization will have on tourism and the economy as a whole. In their talks, the two top diplomats also referred to matters of the bilateral agenda, focusing on opportunities for cooperation in the field of transport.
Minister Davutoglu pointed out that the Bulgarian-Turkish relations have been and will be an example of good cooperation in the Balkans. According to him, in the modern world the bilateral relations should focus on common interests and visions for the future and there is no place for the topic of changing national borders. Ahmet Davutoglu confirmed his intention to visit Bulgaria at the beginning of next year.
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