TIRANA - The foreign ministers meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) began in the Albanian capital of Tirana on Thursday.
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan is representing Turkey at the 19th meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the BSEC member states.
Albania and Armenia are also represented by their foreign ministers in the meeting. Other BSEC members Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine have sent undersecretaries to the meeting.
In the meeting, Armenia is expected to take over the rotating presidency of BSEC from Albania.
Participants are to sign an agreement in order to simplify visa procedures for businessmen and truck drivers.
Foreign Minister Babacan will return to Turkey in the evening after having bilateral talks.
On 25 June 1992, the Heads of State and Government of eleven countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine signed in Istanbul the Summit Declaration and the Bosphorus Statement establishing the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).
It came into existence as a unique and promising 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 has 12 members today, including Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.
(BRC-MS)
(DIP)