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Moscow against politicizing Black Sea Economic Cooperation — FM

The Black Sea Economic Cooperation came into existence as a model of multilateral political and economic initiative aimed at fostering interaction and harmony among the member states
Russia’s’ Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Anton Novoserezhkin/TASS
Russia’s’ Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
© Anton Novoserezhkin/TASS

MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/. Russia has prepared a programme for its chairing period at the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) during first six months of the current year and hopes despite political differences among the participants the organization’s work will not be politicised, Russia’s’ Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a meeting with BSEC’s Secretary General Michael Christides on Monday.

Lavrov congratulated Christides on his election to the position.

"We are expecting anxiously cooperation with you, especially since Russia is chairing the organization," he said. "We have prepared a program for the chairing period, about 40 events. I hope, we implement the program. We appreciate your support."

"I hope despite of political differences, BSEC’s activities will not be politicised," Lavrov said.

Christides said Russia’s chairing is "very important for the organization."

"We have many issues, where we could cooperate long-term," he added.

On 25 June 1992, the Heads of State and Government of eleven countries signed in Istanbul the Summit Declaration and the Bosporus Statement giving birth to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). It came into existence as a model of multilateral political and economic initiative aimed at fostering interaction and harmony among the member states, as well as to ensure peace, stability and prosperity encouraging friendly and good-neighbourly relations in the Black Sea region.

The organization’s 12 member countries are: Azerbaijan, Albany, Armenia, Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.