MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:
PRESS RELEASE
29 October 2004
Foreign Minister Oskanian Attended BSEC 11th Ministerial In Tbilisi
On 29 October, Foreign Minister Oskanian participated in 11th Meeting of
Foreign Ministers of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) held in Tbilisi,
Georgia. The meeting discussed and adopted documents related to cooperation
between BSEC and other international structures, and to the organization’s
programme, financial and administrative matters.
In a statement delivered at the Ministerial, Minister Oskanian particularly
stressed: ” Not much more than a decade ago the Black Sea divided the
countries, that today make up BSEC. But thousands of years before that the
Black Sea actually linked the two ends of the known world. From the
Mediterranean Sea to the Caspian Sea this was all one basin. Here, too, the
proximity of Europe is an example and a lesson. The countries of Europe have
built bridges among themselves and with those of us who surround them. It
remains for the countries of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation to build
bridges amongst ourselves. For all of us, a common sea and functioning
bridges are essential for two-way traffic to flow from our past to our
future”. He further noted: “This now mature organization, BSEC, was set up
in a way, almost to prove, that countries with different and sometimes even
conflicting histories, different religions, different languages, different
political and social systems can indeed, in this new age, cohabit, coexist,
cooperate and prosper”.
During two days preceding the Ministerial, Armenian delegation participated
in BSEC Meeting of Senior Officials that prepared a package of documents for
the Ministerial.
At BSEC 11th Ministerial, Greece took over the next 6 months’ chairmanship
from Georgia.
In the framework of the Ministerial, Minister Oskanian had a meeting with
Georgia’s Salome Zourabishvili. During the meeting, the parties explored
general issues related to agreements on cooperation between Foreign
Ministries of the two countries discussed during the recent visit of Armenia
‘s President. The Foreign Ministers also explored coordination of steps
taken by Armenia and Georgia under EU’s New Neighborhood Programme. The
parties also discussed regional issues and exchanged views on reciprocal
efforts towards ensuring stable functioning of communication routes between
the two countries.