Serbia to continue efforts to strengthen organization

Tomislav Nikolic

It is my distinct pleasure to co-chair with the distinguished president of the Republic of Turkey, H.E. Mr. Abdullah Gül, this historic event, celebrating the 20th Anniversary Summit of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), which will take place in the memorable, ancient, and beautiful city of Istanbul.

I am especially proud that the BSEC will celebrate this solemn event, in the 20th year of its founding, during the Serbian chairmanship. I have no doubts that it will constitute a milestone for the BSEC in many aspects. In that regard, I wish to emphasize the very important role that the Republic of Turkey plays in establishing the smooth functioning of our Organization.

This has become even more important over the past few years. An increasingly complex geostrategic environment has been taking shape, with the level of uncertainty continuing to rise in many corners of the world. The severe consequences of the economic crisis, which have gone beyond all predictions, will continue to affect the BSEC space well into the future. These circumstances bring an imperative to work more closely together and make our responsibility for improving BSEC cooperation unavoidable. Serbia has carried out its current six-month chairmanship-in-office term in this very spirit. We have striven to strengthen the BSEC, and bring the Member States of our Organization closer together, trying to foster better cooperation, understanding and mutual respect.

For our part, the Republic of Serbia will continue to make concrete efforts towards strengthening the mechanisms of cooperation within the BSEC, in order to create clearly defined criteria, ways and directions of action. We are fully committed to creating an atmosphere of understanding, tolerance and respect in relations between our countries and within our Organization, as a fundamental basis for achieving our common goals. We all have to do our utmost to further improve our economic cooperation for the benefit of the people of our region. The recent adoption of the new economic agenda of the BSEC should be a roadmap for our common endeavors, and how to proceed further.

Of course, the main prerequisite for any cooperation are good relations within the Organization. We will pursue further the project-oriented and economic dimension of BSEC in order to achieve concrete and tangible results. It is my sincere wish, and I hope common vision, that by the next Summit occasion we will have results that will make us proud of being part of this Organization. In this regard Serbia will continue to be a constructive partner, devoted to the principles and objectives of our Organization.

Tomislav Nikolic, President of Serbia.