STATEMENT. Distinguished participants,

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1 Annex III to BS/FM/R(2015)1 STATEMENT by H.E. Mrs. Natalia GHERMAN, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova at the 32 nd meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the BSEC Member States (Chisinau, 18 June 2015) Prime-minister of the Republic of Moldova, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Dear Mr. Secretary General, Honourable audience, In my capacity of the Chair in office of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) I am both pleased and honoured to host the meeting of the BSEC Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs today in the city of Chisinau. I would like to welcome the heads of national delegations from the BSEC Member States, the representatives of the related bodies Parliamentary Assembly, Business Council, Black Sea Trade and Development Bank and the International Center for Black Sea Studies. Also I would like to greet the Observers and Sectoral Dialogue Partners as well as the representatives of the International Organizations. And I am pleased to note that the observer status in the BSEC of the Republic of Belarus, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Tunisia and the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution has been renewed by the Council for another period of 2 years. The decision of the Council denotes the interest of the states and international organizations towards our work in the BSEC organization. Distinguished participants, This is the last, major event organized during Moldovan Chairmanship, in fact it is the concluding meeting of the Council, which evaluates the activities within the organization for the last 6 months and outlines the perspectives of our future cooperation. Looking back at the past half year, I would like to recall the main activities and events carried out by the Moldovan Chairmanship. 1

2 In line with the conclusions of the meeting of the BSEC Council of Ministers held in New-York on 25 September 2014 the Chairmanship convened an informal meeting for the purpose of considering the possible ways and means of reforming the organization in order to improve its activities and enhance its efficiency and effectiveness. The meeting took into consideration the necessary structural and organizational adaptations of the organization to the on-going changes in the region and beyond. It is obvious that the process of reforming shall continue during the upcoming chairmanships, and, most probably, will be finalised by the next BSEC Summit in June 2017 during the Turkish Chairmanship of the BSEC. Along with the reforming of the BSEC, one of the main priorities of the Moldovan Chairmanship was aimed at improving the BSEC-EU interaction. The Chairmanship regards the BSEC-EU enhanced relationship as a forward-looking framework based on the synergy of bilateral relations, the potential of the crossborder cooperation and the benefits from the various complementary and relevant regional dimensions and policies, such as the Black Sea Synergy and the Eastern Partnership initiative. The important added value of an enhanced BSEC EU interaction may consist in providing more coherent and concrete actions towards the development of a secure, stable and prosperous Black Sea area. This objective could be achieved by developing a balanced, mutually beneficial and result-oriented relationship between BSEC and EU institutions based on complementarity, partnership and coordination in those areas where such cooperation is deemed to be desirable and feasible. These were the subjects of high level consultations between the Chairmanship and the European Commission, precisely between myself and commissioner Hahn in Bratislava on 14 May We stressed the importance of improving the BSEC-EU interaction and the need to continue such consultations in the future. While acknowledging the BSEC-EU interaction as a priority for the Organization, we do not need to diminish the role of other international organization and initiatives in shaping a new regional architecture in the Black Sea area. Primarily the United Nations, which is entrusted with the main task of preserving peace and security throughout the world. The relations between BSEC and UN shall be constantly reviewed in order to benefit from the involvement of UN and its specialized agencies in the programmes and projects developed and implemented in the BSEC region. The Resolution of the UN General Assembly on Cooperation between the UN and BSEC adopted at the 69 th UNGA shall be fully utilised to enhance the cooperation between BSEC and UN system. Ladies and gentlemen, During the past 6 months the Chairmanship, with the assistance from the Permanent International Secretariat and with the participation of the Member 2

3 States, organized more than 50 meetings of sectoral working groups, expert groups meetings, conferences, workshops and seminars aimed at furthering the cooperation within the organization. In particular I would like to mention three ministerial meetings on transport, economy and healthcare that took place in Chisinau. On transport, the Ministers agreed to join efforts for promotion of reliable, efficient, safe, integrated and sustainable transport systems in the BSEC region, based on mutually acceptable transport policies of the Member States and relevant international conventions and treaties. The Chisinau Joint Declaration on Prospects of Cooperation in the field of Transport in the BSEC Region calls upon the Member States to take steps towards gradual liberalization of international road transport of goods on the basis of removing barriers hampering mutually beneficial participation of road transport operators in bilateral and transit transportation. The Chairmanship believes that it is for the benefit of all Member States to enlarge the geographical coverage of the BSEC Permit system and extend its usage, on a voluntary basis, to the third country transport. Being the first country to introduce the International Vehicle Weight Certificate (IVWC) within the BSEC, we will take further measures to promote this Pilot Project as an additional tool to facilitate the transport of goods in the BSEC region. The Ministers in charge of economy from the BSEC Member States at their meeting in Chisinau on 29 May 2015 adopted the Joint Declaration on Facilitating Intraregional Trade and Investments. This is a long-term commitment aimed at revealing the existing restrictions for trade and investment and exploring the ways of establishing mechanisms to facilitate trade flows and stimulate investments between the Member States in conformity with the standards and rules of the World Trade Organization. Establishing a Regional Trade Facilitation Strategy for the BSEC Region, as proposed by the ministerial meeting, would assist the Member States in eliminating the non-tariff barriers to trade, simplifying the existing cross-border procedures with the ultimate aim of enhancing trade cooperation and exchanges among the countries. The BSEC Business Council has a role to play in this regard, in particular to promote the interaction among the business communities of the Member States and to facilitate the contacts between the private companies, acting for the continuous improvement of the business environment. And in the field of health care and pharmaceuticals, the Chairmanship continued to build on the results of the last ministerial meeting held during the Hellenic Chairmanship. The Working Group on Health Care and Pharmaceutics considered, at its meeting in May 2015, the possible interaction and cooperation of the relevant national authorities of the BSEC Member States on the adoption and implementation of the effective regulatory measures in the field of tobacco control, 3

4 as a high priority for public health and socio-economic development. The Declaration on the Enhanced Tobacco Control Measures for Better Social and Economic Development adopted at the meeting of the Ministers in charge of healthcare in Chisinau on the 5 th of June comprises a resolute willingness of the Member States to adopt and implement effective policy measures on tobacco control in line with the guidelines of the World Health Organization, including legislation that ensures 100% smoke-free public places. (By the way, those in the meeting hall who are still smoking, it may be worth reading the Declaration that may help you quit smocking.) As the Country Coordinator of the Working Group on Culture, the Moldovan Chairmanship continued to promote cultural ties among Member States and encouraged joint projects in the field of contemporary culture, cultural itineraries and intercultural dialogue. The Chairmanship regrets that the Memorandum of Understanding on the Protection of Cultural Heritage among the BSEC Member States has not been agreed by the Member States at this meeting. We hope that at expert level the countries will continue to negotiate the MoU and finalize it by the next meeting of the Council. In the meantime the Working Group on Culture will continue considering another Memorandum of Understanding among the BSEC Member States on cooperation in combating illicit trafficking of cultural property belonging to the archaeological, historical, ethnographical heritage and arts. Given the importance of the region and its Member States in terms of diverse cultural traditions, and attractive geographical landscape the Working Group on Culture will further consider the possibility of developing cultural tourism in the region. Dear participants, All the activities organized during the Moldovan Chairmanship would not be possible without the involvement and assistance from the Permanent International Secretariat. The work of PERMIS in coordinating and facilitating BSEC activities is highly appreciated. I use this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all PERMIS staff, in particular to Ambassador Victor Tvircun, Secretary General of the BSEC PERMIS, for their active work aimed at promoting the BSEC in and outside the Black Sea area and rendering the valuable assistance to the Chairmanship. I wish to express my sincere thanks, Ambassador, for your personal dedication, valuable work and guidance of the Secretariat. I believe that your initiatives and proposals to make our organization more visible and more efficient would be continued and carried on by the newly elected Secretary General, Ambassador Michael Christides, whom I wish every success. I have no doubt that he will continue to lead this important body in an efficient and capable manner. 4

5 Distinguished participants, From the very beginning the main objective of the BSEC has been to ensure that the Black Sea becomes a sea of peace, stability and prosperity through economic cooperation. The motto of the Chairmanship Bringing Stability, Ensuring Consensus, which is the acronym for the BSEC, throughout these 6 month has been associated with and directed at stimulating growth, increasing confidence, encouraging dialogue and cooperation, enhancing good neighbourliness among the Member States. The Chairmanship attempted to explore the possibilities of deepening the sectoral cooperation in order to strengthen the stability of the region, making the Black Sea area safer and more secure. Regional security is a matter of great importance to us. In this regard, dramatic developments in and around Ukraine have generated a major impact on the situation in the entire region. We express our solidarity with the people of Ukraine and strongly support all the efforts aimed at political resolution of the conflict on the basis sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Dear colleagues, The need for further strengthening the cooperation within the BSEC must remain a priority for the following Chairmanships. These actions shall take into account the new elements that emerge in the regional and international environment of the wider Black Sea area. We therefore wish every success to the incoming Romanian Chairmanship and would like to assure Minister Bogdan Aurescu of our full support, cooperation and assistance. Let me conclude by assuring the Council that my country will join the efforts of other Member States for the implementation of the proposed objectives, being aware of the respect for the interest of every state and taking into consideration common interests of our Organization, which are inalienable for achieving concrete results in the Black Sea region. Thank you very much for your attention! 5

6 Annex IV to BS/FM/R(2015)1 STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. BOGDAN AURESCU, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF ROMANIA (INCOMING CHAIRMAN) Distinguished Vice Prime Minister Natalia Gherman Esteemed Ministers, Mr. Secretary General Victor Ţvircun, Your Excellencies, Sunt deosebit de onorat să mă aflu din nou la Chişinău, între prieteni şi să pot participa la această reuniune deosebit de importantă pentru perioada plină de evenimente pe care o traversaţi. Sunt ferm convins că Republica Moldova va şti să găsească soluţiile potrivite. At the outset, let me say that our colleagues in Chişinău carried out their mandate as Chairmanship-in-Office of BSEC in an impressive manner, and I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to you, personally, Madame Chairperson, and to your able team under the coordination of deputy minister Tudor Ulianovschi, and Senior Official Alexei Nistrean, for your hard work and dedication. Your Excellency, Vice prime minister Gherman, Dear Colleagues, The Chairmanship-in-Office of the Republic of Moldova proposed a generous agenda under a very inspired motto: Bringing Stability, Ensuring Consensus. We believe significant progress in all the priority areas of the Republic of Moldova Chairmanship - enhancing the project-oriented agenda of the organization, improving the BSEC-EU interaction, reforming BSEC and improving its activities - showed continuity and consistency with the Hellenic, Bulgarian and other BSEC Chairmanships From the ambitious agenda of the Chairmanship of the Republic of Moldova, I would like to single out the meetings of the ministers of transport, which resulted in the adoption of the Chişinău Joint Declaration on Prospects of Cooperation in the field of Transport in the BSEC Region, which highlights the importance of the development of reliable, efficient, safe, integrated and sustainable transport systems in the BSEC region. As the incoming Coordinating Country of the Working Group on Transport, Romania actively supports the implementation of the Motorways of the Sea. Romania took over from Turkey the Joint Technical Secretariat of the Ad-Hoc Working Group on the Development of the Motorways of the Sea in the BSEC Region (MoS JTS), hosted by the Port of Constanţa, and is committed to seeing the Motorways project and the maritime cooperation within BSEC advance decisively.

7 The meeting of the ministers of Economy brought a necessary impetus to our economic cooperation, the main priority area of action of BSEC, through the adoption of the Joint Declaration on Facilitating Interregional Trade and Investment. Last but not least, the ministers of health, during their meeting on June 5, looked into ways enhanced tobacco control measures contribute to a better social and economic development. In order to build on this progress, but also in the wider economic context, Romania will continue to promote the implementation of a regional mechanism aimed at reducing tax evasion within the trade transactions developed by BSEC Member States. We believe that this initiative is worthwhile and will have a beneficial effect for all our economies and will foster regional cooperation in the tax field within the Black Sea region. Our organization, in addition to intergovernmental cooperation, benefits from the interaction with our related bodies, observers and sectoral dialogue partners. In this respect, as incoming CiO of BSEC, Romania took note of the Declaration on strengthening the status of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, adopted by PABSEC at its General Assembly here in Chişinău on June 8-10, and is committed to bringing the issue to the decision of the member states in an expeditious manner. A special mention to the role of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank whose President, Mr. Ihsan Ugur Delikanli we hosted in Bucharest, on 25 February 2015, on his first visit to Romania since he took over his mandate in July We have taken positive note of the Bank s New Medium Term Strategy and Business Plan And we would support this BSEC affiliated body to be more involved in the projects of our Organization. And because we do believe in the strong and qualified intellectual input provided by the ICBSS under the able leadership of Dr. Zefi Dimadama, we call upon our acknowledged BSEC think-tank to come up with fresh and inspirational thinking for a real Black Sea Dimension of regionalism, which would promote further regional economic cooperation while anticipating changes in the neighborhood. And turning now to the BSEC Business Council we are convinced that the business community has an important role in promoting our cooperation especially within our Member States, so that BSEC becomes a real one-stop contact point on how to set up and run business in the region. The remarkable know-how of the business community in this field should be taken into due account. Dear Colleagues, Romania will take over the Chairmanship-in-Office of BSEC at the beginning of July, and is ready to present to the Member States an agenda and a set of priorities that will contribute, in our opinion, to achieving the key objectives and main goals of the BSEC Economic Agenda, adopted at the 2012 Summit. Setting consensus targets for the region is important and we should continue to articulate our cooperation by having in sight recommendations and activities that are forward-looking. Our underlying assumption is that all concerned stakeholders are willing to explore options that allow the realization of mutually-beneficial gains that result in positive sum way of thinking. We have in mind to continue the approach of the previous Chairmanships, for it is only through ensuring a consistent and

8 continuous approach of our rotating national Chairmanship mandates that progress in view of the approaching 2017 BSEC Summit can be achieved. Our main areas of focus will be Transport, Internal Affairs, Energy and Environment. We will do our outmost to deliver on these objectives, in close cooperation and coordination with all Member States, under the motto Building Stability, Enhancing Connectivity, mirroring the acronym of BSEC. While fully aware of the economic character of BSEC, which we seek to preserve and enhance, we also believe that all MS should observe the commitments made under the BSEC Charter. These commitments include adherence to the principles of international law and respecting them, as well as working together for assuring security, stability and development for all Member States and their people. Ladies and Gentlemen, Romania has always been a strong advocate for increased interaction between BSEC and the European Union and not only because of its double membership, but also for objective, pragmatic reasons. If one looks at trade and investment, EU s long term priority to boost growth and create jobs, economic sustainability, the Trans-European Networks or the Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership, all of them are strong incentives for an enhanced relationship between BSEC and EU. For many years already, we talked a lot about increasing EU-BSEC interaction, but we are starting to wonder if the term interaction is really the most appropriate. Because if the Economic Agenda dominates BSEC today, what we should seek from the EU is not to interact, but rather to set up a genuine partnership. We are aware that in this relationship there was a lack of chemistry. But we strongly believe that we have reached a stage today when the EU understands better why our region is important for Europe. The European External Action Service, which is represented today in this meeting, has shown real willingness to have a fresh look at EU s long-term policy towards the Black Sea region, including on how to make effective use of Black Sea Synergy and other possible instruments. Your Excellencies, In approaching the end of my intervention, I would like to stress two particular points. One concerns the appointment of a new Secretary General. I congratulate Ambassador Michael Christides for his appointment and we would like to thank Mr Victor Ţvircun for his service at the helm of PERMIS. And we would like to underline to the new Secretary General that he will have a partner in Romania in fulfilling his future tasks among which the interaction with the EU will rank first. We view this nomination as an essential element of a wider package which I would like to think of as a renewal of Permanent International Secretariat. It is a long-standing position of my country that even under the current statute and rules, PERMIS should play a more effective role within BSEC, be more creative and more pro-active. PERMIS could undertake a thorough review of existing areas of BSEC cooperation where the regional approach provides value compared to the individual efforts of Members States. This undertaking would include also the legally binding commitments and their implementation mechanisms.

9 The second point concerns the future of BSEC itself. As I mentioned already, there are two years left until the Organization will turn 25 years in In the past two decades, we managed to set up the most comprehensive and the only fully-fledged economic cooperation organization in the region. We have witnessed brighter moments and other less bright moments in this period. We have learned many lessons too. One of them is the need to address urgently the question of institutional efficiency in BSEC. We can no longer ignore this question, because if we do, BSEC will no longer be comprehensive and fully-fledged. Romania has great expectations in this sense for the future. I trust that the Chair-in-Office who will take over from us, the Russian Federation, one of the main founding Member States, has made its own reality check on this organization. We look forward to partnering the Russian Federation in undergoing a comprehensive review and planning the way ahead for this Organization. To us, the future of the BSEC lays in a solid and articulated relationship with the EU, without duplication of mechanisms or sterile exercises. Such approach must start from an assessment of what the BSEC said it would do two decades ago and what it managed to produce. I would like to stress that such an undertaking should be achieved through consensus-building. In doing more on substance one cannot succeed alone. The European Union must become a constant interlocutor and this interaction will increase the regional profile of the BSEC. This is the call of BSEC for the time left till 2017 and succeeding in such enterprise is a two-way street. More interest from both sides is needed and enhanced cooperation on concrete themes is also a must. I made this point because Romania cares about BSEC and wants BSEC to articulate effective regional cooperation. Be assured that Romania remains firmly committed to reinforcing BSEC and will continue to strive for the best ways and means to achieve that. In view of the 25 th anniversary, the Romanian CiO considers initiating a consensus-based process of setting concrete and measurable objectives for our Organization. This can only happen in close cooperation and consultation with all BSEC states and particularly with the states holding the Chairmanship in the first halves of 2016 (Russia, as fellow Troika member) and 2017 (Turkey, as host of PERMIS). No one around this table has magic solutions for the challenges in our region. But if we manage to review our Economic Agenda, if we will manage to set up a partnership with the European Union, if we can embark upon a reform process of BSEC or at least to improve its working methods and especially if we can mobilize the tremendous material and human resources that the Black Sea region possesses, then I am almost certain that our region can become a more decent place to live, to learn or to do business. This is, after all, the ultimate goal of BSEC. Distinguished Minister Gherman, Dear Colleagues,

10 I thank once again the Republic of Moldova BSEC Chairmanship-in-Office, and I express my hope that the Romanian Chairmanship will benefit from the support of all of you during our mandate. Vă mulţumesc, Thank you for your attention.

11 Annex V to BS/FM/R(2015)1 STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR DR. VICTOR TVIRCUN, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION (BSEC) PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT (PERMIS) AT THE THIRTY-SECOND MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE BSEC MEMBER STATES (Chisinau, 18 June 2015) Activity of the BSEC PERMIS Dear Madam Chairperson, Dear Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, It gives me particular pleasure to return to Chisinau and present the activity of the BSEC PERMIS throughout the last semester. This is to be my last participation to a BSEC Meeting under the capacity of Secretary General and my final statement before the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the BSEC Member States. During the period 1 January to 30 June 2015, the rotating BSEC Chairmanship-in-Office of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation was ensured by the Republic of Moldova. The Moldovan Chairmanship streamlined the activity of BSEC, under the motto Bringing Stability, Ensuring Consensus, which forms the acronym BSEC. Stability is the necessary prerequisite for building confidence, promoting cooperation and fostering growth; and consensus is the core principle in the functioning of BSEC. It was, therefore, a fitting choice of words, describing neatly what we are aiming for in BSEC; these guiding words ensured the success of the Moldovan Chairmanship, the effective promotion of the achievements of previous Chairmanships and provide a valuable stepping stone for the forthcoming Romanian one. The activities of the Moldovan Chairmanship-in-Office were reflected in an ambitious work-plan for sector cooperation, including three Ministerial Meetings, besides the Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

12 For this overall success, your Excellency, please, accept, our gratitude and recognition. We thank you for our close cooperation, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and through the sectoral Ministries involved in the successful programming of BSEC activities during the last semester. The BSEC PERMIS shared the efforts of the Chairmanship, in order to ensure the smooth programming, effective implementation and fruitful outcomes of its heavy Calendar of Events, also guaranteeing the smooth programming of a number of meetings of the BSEC subsidiary organs, seminars and workshops. In this framework, in the field of cooperation on Economic Development, Trade and Industry, I want to particularly mention the Meeting of the Ministers of Economy, hosted in Chisinau, providing fresh impetus to regional cooperation in what constitutes the core activity of our Organization. In the field of Sector Cooperation in Economic areas, Moldova hosted, in Chisinau, a successful Meeting of the Ministers of Transport, which resulted in the adoption of the Joint Declaration on Prospects of Cooperation in the field of Transport, which will guideline BSEC activities in the future in this important field.. In the field of cooperation on Soft Security and Social Challenges, the Chairmanship organized the second ever Meeting of the Ministers in Charge of Healthcare, which centered on the threat of combating tobacco smoking, a very topical issue on both the national and international level. Finally, in the field of Science, Education, Culture and Tourism, the Chairmanship effectively promoted activities in all areas of cooperation and, in particular, in the field of Tourism, an industry of growing importance for all BSEC Member States. All those meetings were prepared at experts level, through the relevant BSEC Working Groups and the Calendar of the Chairmanship was also complimented by the programming of meetings of the BSEC subsidiary organs and marked by an impressive number of conferences, workshops and joint events. In this framework, I want to mention, in particular, the organization, in Chisinau, of the international conference Professional Education and Economic Needs of the Black Sea Region, on 27 April The Conference was jointly organized by the BSEC PERMIS and the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova under the auspices of the Moldovan BSEC Chairmanship, with the support of the BSTDB. It brought together more than 100 participants from relevant government authorities, academia, business circles and international organizations, including UNESCO, the International Road Transport Union, the International Union of Railways and the Danube Commission. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also sent a message to be delivered at the opening session. The main themes of the Conference were discussed in detail within four panels, addressing quality issues in formal education; education and the role of information and communication technologies; linking science and education with market demands; and key values and priorities of education in the 21st Century. Finally, during the period in question, the BSEC PERMIS continued its regular contacts with the BSEC Observers and Sectoral Dialogue Partners, including the European Union. In particular, BSEC-EU cooperation was selected as one of the main priorities of the Chairmanship, which

13 held useful consultations also at a high political level in order to promote interaction between the two parties. I also had the opportunity to raise the issue of giving a concrete, result and projectoriented content to this cooperation, including by finalizing a joint BSEC-EU Action Plan, during my meeting with Commissioner for Environment and Maritime Affairs, Mr. Karmenu Vella and with the Cabinet of Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Mr. Johannes Hahn. Your Excellencies, As I mentioned in the opening of my statement, this Meeting will signal for me the time to bid farewell to many dear colleagues and friends, as well as to BSEC; it is appropriate to provide evidence of my record as head of the Permanent International Secretariat. Please allow me, also, to consider this an opportunity to share my views on the many challenges that BSEC is facing and on what I deem to be the necessary responses of the Member States to them. During my mandate, it was my first priority, a priority shared by all my colleagues in the Secretariat, to increase the administrative capacity of BSEC, to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Organization and enable it to perform better and to produce tangible results for the benefit of all Member States. With the valuable contribution of the all D and P staff, in particular First Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Ahmet Erozan, we were able to introduce an effective clustering of BSEC activities, organize thematically the work in BSEC PERMIS and ensure a better coordination and oversight between Directorial, Professional and Supportive Staff, adopting the practice of monthly reporting for Professional Staff and performance evaluation for Supportive Staff. We aimed at preparing a yearly projection of BSEC activities and synchronize them with the activity of BSEC s Related Bodies, through regular consultations and a wider use of the Troika format. We also upgraded the software capacity of the Secretariat and made BSEC more visible, through the wider use of social media and our coordination with the Communication Officers of the Member States. We also made a particular point of strictly respecting financial discipline an area where the performance of BSEC was lacking in the past. I am especially pleased to state that, in the last three years, the Auditing Reports, prepared by an independent External Auditor, contained no significant recommendations for implementation. In the same framework, we were also able to streamline all the reporting activities of the BSEC PERMIS the Progress Report of the Secretary General, the Reports on the implementation of the BSEC Budget and all financial statements, thus providing a clear, concise and coherent picture of BSEC activity. Second, we aimed to strengthen the project and result oriented character of BSEC, revive the Project Development Fund, which remains inactive due to the lack of funding by the Member States and establish a Project Management Unit, in order to be able to develop, monitor and seek financing for BSEC projects by ourselves.

14 We made it a point to try to enrich the activity of the Working Groups, introduce practical issues in their Agendas and schedule joint meetings and special events, conferences and seminars, which would activate participation of experts from the capitals. As a result, a number of new documents, declarations and agreements were adopted and more than 10 legal documents are currently being finalized. I am sure that they will effectively guide future activities of BSEC in all areas of cooperation. Moreover, as a result of these, today, 2 new memoranda on cooperation with the D-8 and the Mediterranean Council follow to be signed. Third, we increased and streamlined our interaction with the BSEC Related Bodies and all BSEC Partners, including the European Union. In the last three years, we were able to review the framework of our cooperation with the Related Bodies, a key element in the promotion of the BSEC Agenda. We renewed the practice of holding regular coordination meetings with other regional and international organizations and we promoted Memoranda and Agreements to enhance cooperation with them. Finally, we upgraded our cooperation with the United Nations and its Specialized Bodies and promoted, very effectively, our contacts with the European Union, at the highest level, but also at service level, through regular consultations with the European External Action Service and the European Commission. In this framework, I want to particularly mention the revival of the Ad Hoc Group of Experts on BSEC-EU interaction, which was dormant since I am confident that we made significant progress in promoting BSEC-EU cooperation, in a practical, flexible and result-oriented way. Ladies and Gentlemen, Before concluding, please allow me a few final remarks, based on my experience as head of the Permanent International Secretariat. In the last 20 years, a lot has changed in our region, in our countries, in the expectations of the Member States and in the standards by which we judge BSEC. BSEC belongs to its Member States and, in the final analysis, to the peoples of our region and the Secretariat, which I had the honour to represent, exists only to serve the interests and priorities of the Member States. All BSEC PERMIS Staff, from first to last, serve at the discretion of the Member States. We try to make the utmost of the very limited resources available to the Organization for promoting regional economic cooperation. In this endeavour, we need the active goodwill, the steady support and the solid contribution of all Member States. In recent months, the Member States have initiated a process of reforming BSEC which, hopefully, will grant BSEC a new, improved institutional framework, by In my view, reforming BSEC is a necessary and mature exercise. We need, indeed, to re-think and re-examine the functioning of the Organization, if we are to help it grow, help it deliver its promise and produce concrete results.

15 But the re-launching BSEC will not be successful, unless the Member States invest more into the Organization, in resources and human capital and even more importantly in good-will, constructiveness and spirit of compromise. Not BSEC only, but the region as a whole, needs this contribution urgently. Madam Chairperson, In conclusion, let me express my deep gratitude to the Moldovan BSEC Chairmanship, in particular, to H.E. Natalia Gherman, Deputy-Prime Minister, Minister of the MFAEI, along with Mr. Tudor Ulianovschi, Deputy Minister of the MFAEI, as well as Mr. Alexei Nistrean and Mrs. Victoria Scolnic for their valuable contribution, excellent work and implementation of the calendar of events throughout the last 6 months. Moreover, I would like to sincerely thank all member States for their support through my mandate and, in particular, the Republic of Moldova for the great honour bestowed upon me to be twice nominated for the post of BSEC PERMIS Secretary General. I want to also thank all colleagues members of National Delegations, for their work, valuable guidance and contributions. Last, but not the least, let me thank the BSEC PERMIS Staff for their excellent work and dedication to the BSEC objectives. I wish them to continue our work with the same sense of duty, optimism and effectiveness. Thank you.

16 Annex VI to BS/FM/R(2015)1 STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. SELIM BELORTAJA, DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA Your Excellency Mrs. Natalia GHERMAN, Dear Ambassador Victor TVIRCUN, Secretary General of the BSEC PERMIS, Honourable Ministers and Heads of Delegations, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Let me please first extend my sincere gratitude to the Host Country, for the very warm hospitality and excellent organization of the BSEC meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of BSEC Members States, here in the beautiful city of Chisinau. Secondly, allow me to commend the Moldavian Chairmanship for their very serious engagement in organizing numerous and successful activities contributing to the increase our regional cooperation with their rich and impressive agenda. The regional cooperation in the framework of BSEC, which Moldavian chairmanship was working for 6 months, is for sure a successful example. Their very professionally selected motto Bringing Stability, Ensuring Consensus, which with their initial letters form the acronym for the BSEC has included in the programme some important issues of cooperation like stability and consensus. This very leitmotif is encompassing our major target. The Stability of the region is for sure, one of our main objectives. On the other hand, the way to settle the various differences is with no dough, the dialogue and continuous work/search for (bilateral/regional) consensus. Moldovan Chairmanship was properly continuing to build on the achievements of the previous Hellenic, Bulgarian and other Chairmanships in order to fulfill the objectives set forth in the Economic Agenda towards an Enhanced BSEC Partnership. Moldavian Chair was fully right on choosing as the first priority ENHANCING THE PROJECT- ORIENTED AGENDA. This chairmanship has demonstrated a strong commitment not only by promoting this basic feature of the organization, but also by taking many attempts to boost the operational capabilities and the respective tools.

17 The other main avenue of the Moldavian Chairmanship was the IMPROVEMENT OF BSEC-EU INTERACTION. This interaction was rightly seen as an objective target which will produce a desired synergy among the sides, will boost the cross-border cooperation and will also create complementarity among the BSEC projects and EU regional policies. The other priority of Moldavian Chair was the REFORMING OF NSEC and improving its activities. In compliance with the conclusions of the informal meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in New-York on 25 September 2014, the Moldavian Chairmanship continued to promote the discussion on the possible ways and means to reform the BSEC. These attempts include some structural and organizational adaptations of the organization to the current changes in the region, for the improvement of its activities and enhancement of its efficiency and effectiveness. Esteemed Colleagues, Albania, as a founding Member State of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, since 1992, is a strong supporter of the organization, believing that regional corporation is crucial for a stable economic development of our countries and the region as a whole. If we see at retrospective glance for BSEC s history, we may conclude that, in general lines, it has been a success story vis-a-vis the political cooperation, exchange of various experiences, legislation approximation, economic cooperation and in other fields as well. The BSEC Member States have increasingly come to realize that regional cooperation is a must. Following this logic, I would say that we have to establish regional networks of infrastructures in several priority areas such as energy and transportation. We are repeatedly saying that BSEC has become a regional actor that carries some weight and has a respectable image. It has succeeded in bringing to the table even countries that have noticeable differences in terms of political positions, and countries with a poor record of neighbourly relations. This is to be considered a success for our organization. Today s meeting is two years ahead of the BSEC Summit of 25 Anniversary of BSEC, to be held in Istanbul on June 2017, which through the important documents that will adopt, will open new avenues and offer fresh guidance for our future cooperation. The regional cooperation under BSEC umbrella constitutes an excellent opportunity to boost bilateral and multilateral relations. Our engagement is based on our common goals to strengthen

18 the economic cooperation among our countries, and help improve the situation in the region with respect to peace, stability and prosperity. Dear Participants, Albania fully agrees with the perception for the need of the reform process in the BSEC, and its secretariat, PERMIS, in assessing the achievements and addressing shortcomings and implementing the decisions taken. In this regard we believe that the balance representation of all Members States in BSEC PERMIS remains highly important and we look forward on member s countries engagement for assuring the full implementation of the principle One country, one representative, for the appointments of the staff in the Permanent International Secretariat (PERMIS) of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization. In view of a more efficient utilization of the opportunities offered at the current level of our cooperation, we have to underscore the significance of the Working Groups role and results. Albania was following with interest the events, especially those organized in BSEC HQ. We know that the crisis is still present in our region. We have to consider this important element when we try to craft the number on the meetings abroad. I may say that my country is facing difficulties in participation in all meetings of the regional initiatives in general and those of BSEC in particular. The number of them is really huge. It arrives to meetings in one semester/chairmanship (So, the double number for one year period). Maybe a better well-balanced correlation between the consultations and /or the elaborations of documents and projects, at BSEC HQ, and those to be done online, should be better considered in our future work Thank you for your attention.

19 Annex VI to BS/FM/R(2015)1 STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. SHAVARSH KOCHARYAN, DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA, Your Excellency Mrs. Chairperson, Your Excellency Mr. Secretary General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me first express my sincere gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Moldova and personally to the Chairperson-in-Office, H.E. Mrs. Natalia Gherman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, for the excellent organization of this meeting and for the generous hospitality extended to us. Mrs. Chairperson, During the past years, as well as over the last six-month period, the Republic of Armenia has continued to devote efforts toward the realization and implementation of aims and priorities set by the revolving BSEC Chairmanships, through adopting constructive approaches targeted at increasing the investment and business attractiveness of the BSEC Region and utilizing the Organization s vast institutional potential. Led by such perception and supporting the Moldovan Chairmanship s respective motto, Armenia took practical steps toward the achievement of main objectives outlined within the concept and priorities of the Moldovan Chairmanship, including the Economic Agenda 2012 and the enhancement of the Organization s efficiency through the implementation of tasks oriented at the realization of infrastructural, as well as small-range projects and programs within the framework of BSEC thus accentuating the project-oriented dimension in our Organization. A vivid example of what was said is the development by the respective Armenian agencies jointly with partners from Georgia, Moldova, Romania and Russia within the framework of BSEC Project Development Fund of two significant projects in the sphere of science and cooperation in emergency situations. A most illustrative such case has been the initiation by the Ministry of Economy of Armenia, the Country-Coordinator of the Working Group on Information and Communication Technologies, of the project proposal for the establishment of a BSEC ICT Incubators Association elaborated and introduced within the newly established Project Management Unit, involving five BSEC Member States as partners.

20 In this regard, I have to mention with disappointment that notwithstanding the intensive work done by the leadership of the mentioned structure and local experts, as well as the efforts by the Chairmanship-in-Office, it has yet proven impossible to commence to the implementation stage of this already ready-made project because of the unconstructive approach by one Member State, namely, Azerbaijan. Such politically motivated stance is unacceptable. It is utterly clear that further escalation of this situation threatens to undermine the very essence of the Project Management Unit thus creating a negative impact on the development of the regional economic cooperation and processes targeted at the enhancement of BSEC s efficiency. Moreover, it is most likely to expect a boomerang effect. However, I would like to express hope that all artificial barriers on the way of the project implementation will be removed shortly so that the Organization could proudly report not only on its success but also on a major achievement in developing the multilateral regional cooperation and consolidating the role of the Organization in the BSEC Region. Mrs. Chairperson, Armenia attaches utmost importance to the enhancing of effectiveness of BSEC and its Permanent International Secretariat which have been set as priority directions during the Moldovan Chairmanship. With this regard, we deem it critical to further expand and advance the scope of the agenda of our economic cooperation within the Working Groups, the enhancement of collaboration between the Country-Coordinators of the Working Groups with Executive Managers of the Secretariat. We also underline the necessity of carrying out analytical work by the Managers aimed at studying the global and regional tendencies, as well as the experience accumulated by other international organizations. The more extensive involvement of experts in the work of the Meetings of the Working Groups also seems to be a necessity. We are confident that the full utilization of BSEC s institutional potential in achieving the mentioned conceptual and practical objectives will exclude any need to amend the basic documents of BSEC. We also consider it pointless to discuss amendments suggesting merely perfunctory or superficial changes, including the mechanical consolidation of the Working Groups. I would like to mention with this regard that it is utterly counter-productive to set aside the discussion of newly drafted Terms of Reference of the Working Groups, some of which were adopted more than ten years ago, until the issue of the so-called consolidation of the Working Groups is settled, especially, this being an issue requiring consensus among the Member States. Such approach will practically block the activities of the Working Groups. In the mentioned context we consider it totally unacceptable the creation of artificial competition in coordinating the Working Groups. Moreover, unwillingness to achieve consensus only makes it apparent that the sole aim behind such behavior is to limit the role of one Member State of the Organization.

21 With this regard we reiterate Armenia s commitment to the further development of regional economic cooperation and our dedication to the principles of good will and constructivism in BSEC. Hence I call on the upcoming Chairmanships, as well as the BSEC Member States to spare no effort to maintain and cherish the basic principles of multilateral economic cooperation within the framework of our Organization as the basis of sustainable regional development and as one indispensible prerequisite to the visibility of BSEC s role in the international arena. I would also like to voice my country s position with regard to the relationship with the affiliated bodies of BSEC. We are for partnership cooperation with the International Center for Black Sea Studies and the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank extending our support to the recent practical steps taken toward that direction. We also think that the BSEC Business Council should be more actively involved in the process of cooperation with the Working Groups and development of joint business projects. With regard to the relationship with the Parliamentary Assembly, the cooperation should evolve solely based on respective economic mandates and within the framework set by the Charter of BSEC. Mrs. Chairperson, Getting back to the issue of priority directions of diversified multisectoral economic cooperation under the Moldovan Chairmanship, I would like to mention that Armenia continues to take active part in cooperation in the spheres of transport, suggesting the concept of the so-called dry ports within the multimodal transportation. In order to further develop the inter-regional transport system we think it necessary the extension of the main route of the BSEC Ring Highway up to Armenia s border with Iran. During the last year Armenia already made use of the first permits in the framework of the project on transit transportation. We welcome Moldova as the first country in our Organization to introduce the International Vehicle Weight Certificate and the acknowledgement of that certificate by Georgia and Ukraine. We also welcome the three Declarations adopted during the Moldovan Chairmanship by the Ministers of Transport, Economy and Health Care and call on all BSEC Member States to exert every effort toward the realization of the provisions of the said Declarations, particularly, related to the establishment of mechanisms for information exchange, development of the single window concept and e-commerce, combating the circulation of false medicaments, etc. Attaching utmost importance to the development of regional tourism and highly appraising the expertise of a number of BSEC Member States, as well as the Council of Europe and the World Tourism Organization in cooperation related to wine-making, we propose to discuss the possibility of setting up a respective multilateral cultural tourism project. Armenia is ready to actively take part in projects within different areas to further develop the regional economic cooperation.