Distinguished Madam Chairman,
Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,


It?s a pleasure to be here in Tbilisi and congratulate our old friend Tedo Japaridze on his new position. I want to thank my colleague Salome Zourabichvili for hosting us here on our side of the Black Sea and look forward to working with our Greek colleagues next year.

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. In that spirit of teamwork, but never forgetting that we come from different teams, we built a great structure. BSEC today, thanks to its well-developed institutions, its established legal framework, its Parliamentary Assembly, active working groups, its secretariat, its Project Fund and Trade and Development Bank, and think tank even, is an international economic organization able to pull its weight. With donor community support to the Project Development Fund, it can focus on implementation of projects of mutual interest of the member states.

All of this is testimony to the seductive function of common economic interests. Our countries came together specifically to benefit from the Black Sea environment, its commonalities, its opportunities. We have indeed, despite many doubters, created a favorable situation for addressing economic challenges.

We have also, in our great consideration to sidestep political problems and differences, created an institution that is perhaps too sensitive to the internal politics of this region. As a result, we know, and we keep saying we know, that BSEC has great, but unmet, potential, that BSEC member states have economic and development needs that are specific to the region and that, if met, can propel the region to the next economic and social plane.

The European prospect can ­ actually is ­ a catalyst for many of our member states individually. The proximity of the European Union is a stimulus for the whole organization, and can activate that potential and turn it into creative energy for regional development and prosperity.

We need Europe?s help in prioritizing needs, defining programs to meet those needs and designing the projects that bring those programs to life. What makes this region unique is its wealth of tradition and deep historical roots. This does not always translate to relevant, transparent organization in either government or business, however.

We must continue to make the necessary structural and social reforms to achieve the higher effectiveness and efficiency needed to compete and thrive. This region?s readiness to adapt is also part of history and has characterized its ability to learn from and contribute to Western civilization. BSEC?s support in transforming the region?s traditional small and medium size enterprises into viable players in a market economy, for example, builds on the region?s capacities while providing contemporary tools.

Just as we need Europe?s structural, technical and institutional expertise in our countries, Europe needs security and prosperity at its borders. BSEC should become a pillar in the new European architecture and hope that the EU will consider it as such. We hope to see the EU devise a clear BSEC oriented policy that includes the strengthening of BSEC, the institutionalization of EU-BSEC relations, the promotion of economic development and intra-regional cooperation among BSEC states, as well as between BSEC and the EU and finally, promoting democracy and political stability in the BSEC region.

We highly appreciate the contribution of BSEC to security and stability in the region. Soft security measures, in the framework of BSEC, will make it possible to overcome trafficking in persons, money laundering and other urgent issues facing BSEC member states. Cooperation at all these levels will diminish the threat of terrorism in all its manifestations.

This process can be undertaken country by country. But it would be more productive if implemented regionally, to both drive regional development, and also to scare away the demons that continue to haunt our region and scare us into inaction.

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 Econ 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.