“ARMENIA WILL NOT BE LEFT OUT FROM THE REGIONAL PROGRAMS”

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[09:14 pm] 06 June, 2006

“The member countries of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Organization (BSEC) are guided with the principle of egality, non of
the member countries pursues its objectives and there is no threat that
Armenia will be omitted from the regional programs,” announced general
secretary of the BSEC Leonidas Chrisanthopoulos in Yerevan today.

Asked to share his opinion on the Kars-Akhalkalaq-Tbilisi-Baku railway
construction taking into account the fact that the BSEC has already
expressed its opinion on the existing Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway
Mr. Chrisanthopoulos answered that Armenia will be included in the
ring-shaped highway which is still being worked out.

As for the railway he noted that it will be opened when the relations
with Turkey better. Thus, Leonidas Chrisanthopoulos didn’t give direct
answer to the question relating to the Kars-Akhalkalaq-Tbilisi-Baku
railway and announced that in his opinion Armenia will not be left
out of the regional transportation programs.

Just at the beginning of the press release Leonidas Chrisanthopoulos
announced that he is greatly impressed by the progress evident in
Armenia in comparison with 1994. Russia will preside over the BSEC
from May to August 1. Next year Turkey will take up the presidency
during the symposium held in Istanbul.

By the way, RA deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan informed that
this is the only organization which gives an opportunity to get in
touch with Azeris and Turks. “According to its legislation this is
an economic cooperation organization and it mustn’t be used by any
country as a political means to solve its private matters.”

By the way, Leonidas Chrisanthopoulos was the Greek Ambassador
to Armenia in 1992 – 93 and even has a book titled “Caucasian
chronicle.” He met with President Kocharyan and RA Foreign Minster
Vartan Oskanian today.

The key issues of the meeting were the developments of the Black
Sea region, particularly issues connected with economy, security and
stability. They focused on the issues enhancing mutual cooperation.

The general secretary presented the future plans of the organization
and the reforms initiated by him in the secretariat located in Istanbul
to the RA Foreign Minister.

They also referred to a number of agenda issues of the Foreign
Ministers’ forthcoming meeting and to the symposium of the
presidents and governments of the countries in connection with the
15th anniversary of the BSCO. While speaking of the programs of
the organization Minister Oskanian underlined that the promotion of
the transportation and energy substructures is the vital pledge for
regional prosperity and on this score the exploitation and rerunning
of the current substructures is very important.