“ARMENIA WILL NOT BE LEFT OUT FROM THE REGIONAL PROGRAMS”
Support A1+!“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.
