B.S.E.C. Extraordinary Summit Meeting Starts

ISTANBUL (A.A) - 25.06.2002 - The Extraordinary Summit Meeting of Heads of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Member States and Governments started on Tuesday in Istanbul.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer was welcomed at the Ciragan Palace by BSEC Secretary General B.E. Valeri Chechelashvili, Istanbul Governor Erol Cakir and Istanbul Police Chief Hasan Ozdemir.
Albanian President Rexhep Meidani, Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev, Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov, Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, Romanian President Ion Iliescu, Ukrainian President Leonid D. Kuchma, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vlentina Matvienko, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan are participating in the summit meeting hosted by President Sezer.
Heads of participating states and governments will deliver speeches during the summit meeting which started with the opening remarks by President Sezer.
The summit meeting will end after Chechelashvili reads out the joint statement and family photograph is taken.
SEZER:''TURKEY WHICH SUFFERED A LOT FROM TERRORISM APPRECIATES STUDIES CARRIED OUT TO FIGHT WITH TERRORISM IN BSEC
Sezer said that terrorism which prevents the installation of international peace and security also negatively affects the economic and social development of countries.
''Turkey which suffered a lot from terrorism, appreciates the studies undertaken and the resolved attitude pursued in this field within the scope of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC),'' Sezer said in his opening remarks at BSEC Summit.
Sezer recalled that BSEC organization started its foundation process ten years ago by the signing of Istanbul Declaration and publication of Bogazici (Bosphorus) Declaration.
Noting that globalization necessitated mutual dependency and solidarity, Sezer said that it would be better to further improve the relations within the scope of regional cooperation.
Sezer said that in this framework BSEC has to reach its natural borders.
Pointing out that this expansion is in line with the targets of the organization's foundation , Sezer said that Turkey believes that no discrimination should be made against any Balkan countries while the expansion of BSEC organization is discussed.
''I would also like to refer briefly to the issue of terrorism which threatens all nations. Turkey supports the studies carried out among member countries in fight with terrorism and wants to further improve the cooperation,'' he said.
SEZER: TURKEY EXPECTS BSEC'S STRATEGIC STATUS AND SUPERIORITY TO BE USED WELL IN ORDER TO CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVING PROSPERITY LEVEL OF MEMBER STATES
Sezer said that the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) region is at the heart of Eurasia which extends from Western Europe to the western borders of China and where the most important economic progress of the century is expected to take place.
''Turkey expects BSEC's strategic status and superiority to be used well in order to contribute to improving the prosperity level of the people of member states,'' Sezer said and noted that the effectivity and productivity of the organization and the interests of the member states have to be improved.
Sezer said that the BSEC organization led by Turkey by taking into consideration the political and economic openings due to the transformation process that started in Eurasia, has acquired an institutional structure and turned into a full international organization.
President Sezer said that BSEC organization aims to contribute to regional and international peace, stability and prosperity by improving the economical and commercial relations among member states in the geography that extends from Balkan, Caucasus and Black Sea littoral states.
''BSEC region is at the heart of Eurasia where important economic steps are expected to take place,'' said Sezer and noted that BSEC countries which have a population of nearly 400 millions undertakes 5 percent of the world trade with nearly 300 billion dollars. This shows the important place of BSEC in global economy, he said.
Sezer said that BSEC was also criticized for not undertaking sufficient cooperation in line with the economy and commercial opportunities of member countries, Sezer said that ''the document namely ''Economic Agenda 2000 which was adopted last year has the character of a road map which BSEC has to follow in the coming years. The document directs the organization to develop concrete cooperation plans and to lead stduies on project basis. It is pleasing that the studies undertaken in this field have reached an advanced level.''
Noting that BSEC organization was currently providing an intense cooperation among governments, parliaments and private sectors in fields of banking, finance and science, Sezer said that he believed that prestige and reliance of the organization in international platform would increase more with start of concrete plans.
Stating that development of regional projects by the organization, which could draw attention of international finance organizations would provide new opportunities for member nations and open new horizons, Sezer said, ''with this respect, we this it beneficial and appropriate for the organization to set up close cooperation with the European Union on basis of concrete projects. We also think it necessary for the organization to have a close cooperation with international energy, trade and finance organizations.''
Recalling that there were intense hot clashes in the Balkans and Caucasus in first years of 1990s when the BSEC was founded, Sezer said, ''however, we are pleased to see that a relative peaceful and stable atmosphere both in the Balkans and in Caucasus is being consolidated. The BSEC organization brings together even the countries which have political problems and enables them to work for common targets. I think that this contribution which is the most important achievement of the BSEC in the last decade, makes today's anniversary celebration meaningful.''
''The achievements of our organization in the last ten years boost our morale and increase our confidence and hope for the future. We think that this young organization's works and activities should be accelerated and encouraged. We believe that the BSEC organization will further develop. Turkey will continue expending active efforts with this objective,'' President Sezer said.