BLACK SEA FORUM FOR DIALOGUE AND PARTNERSHIP STARTS IN BUCHAREST
Opening the forum Foreign Minister of Romania Mihai Razvan Ungureanu reported on the agenda.
Then, the forum participants got involved in discussions dealing with “The Black Sea Region in the European and global context”. Most of speakers highlighted the need to settle existing conflicts in the former Soviet Republics as they are seen as impediment for the regional development and globalizing world. At the same time, forum participants stressed the importance for the Black Sea region countries to combine their efforts in order to expand economic, political, cultural cooperation.
After the break, the forum continued its work with participation of the Heads of Azerbaijan, Romania, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova and Armenia as well as representatives of Turkey, Bulgaria and over 10 other countries.
Speaking at the meeting focused on “The Black Sea Forum: new ideas, new commitments, new instruments”, President of Romania Traian Basescu welcomed the participants and guests and said that this forum is very useful in terms of drawing world community’s attention to the Black Sea region. He said the forum offers a platform for open dialogue in order to promote regional cooperation, solidarity, transparency and democracy. The forum aims to contribute to the peace and stability in the Black Sea region. To this end, six heads of states as well as senior officials of the European Union, Council of Europe, NATO and other international organizations and representatives of over 10 countries were invited to this event. Over 400 non-governmental organizations show great interest in the event and over 350 local and foreign media outlets cover the forum’s activities.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev delivered a speech during the forum. The Head of State touched upon Azerbaijan’s economic development, involvement in international projects and the work that has been done towards integration into the European structures. President said that implementation of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum oil and gas pipeline projects is of great importance for the world, in particular, European and Black Sea region countries and found a need to create regional transport infrastructure. Speaking of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict President Ilham Aliyev once again revealed Azerbaijan’s fair stance on this matter and said that 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories are occupied by Armenia and over a million Azerbaijanis became refugees and IDPs as a result of the policy of ethnic cleansing. According to the President, this problem should be settled in line with international legal standards.
President of Azerbaijan stressed the importance of the forum, saying that discussion were very fruitful at the event. Then, he expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the event.
The forum was also addressed by Presidents of Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine as well as Ivailo Kalfin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Besir Atalay, Minister of State, Turkey and other top officials. The speakers highly assessed the forum and highlighted the need to find a solution to some important issues.
In conclusion, a joint declaration for the Black Sea Forum for Dialogue and Partnership was adopted.
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