Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan, participated in the 45th meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (CMFA) of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), held online on 21 December 2022 under the moderation of Nicu Popescu, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova.

Expressing his appreciation to the Moldovan side for the successful stewardship of their chairmanship in the Organization through the challenging times in the region, Deputy Foreign Minister Gevorgyan, in the context of the 30th anniversary of the BSEC, stressed the importance of the efficiency of the Organization’s working methods and the “BSEC Economic Agenda”, informing that Armenia has substantially engaged in the discussions and provided its proposals on the documents. He also touched upon Armenia’s recent activities and initiatives within the BSEC.

Vahe Gevorgyan has also informed about the double-digit economic growth registered in Armenia and the sharp increase in foreign trade volumes including with BSEC member states this year.

Referring to the aggressions of Azerbaijan against the people of Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia and continued occupation of the sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia, the Deputy Minister stressed that the situation seriously endangers the prospect of peace and stability in the region. In this context, he drew attention to Azerbaijan's ongoing blockade of the Lachin Corridor, which on the one hand openly violates the key provisions of the trilateral statement of November 9, and on the other hand causes a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The CMFA adopted resolutions, decisions and recommendations on various issues, approved Armenia’s coordinatorship of the BSEC Working Group on Tourism for 2025-2026. At the end the Republic of Moldova handed over the Chairmanship-in-Office of the BSEC Organization to the Republic of Serbia.

Statement by H.E. Mr. Vahe Gevorgyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia