Baku urges BSEC reform
Azerbaijan backs conducting reforms in the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC), says Deputy Foreign
Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev.
Mammadguliyev told reporters that there was a need for change in BSEC to turn it into a more ``mobile`` group, saying the organization should focus more on implementing specific projects and enforcing those decisions approved by the members.
According to the deputy minister, the private sector should be more involved in the cooperation among the BSEC member states to ensure the successful development of such interaction.
``Work to that end has already begun. A meeting of the BSEC countries` experts devoted to this topic was held in the past few days at Azerbaijan`s initiative.``
Mammadguliyev noted that, so far, it has been impossible to hold a conference to discuss reform because decisions in the BSEC are passed based on a consensus.
Baku hosted a meeting of the BSEC foreign ministers on Thursday. The event was attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan. It was joined by the ministers of Bulgaria, Moldova and Albania, while Russia, Greece, Serbia, Georgia, Romania and Ukraine were represented by their deputy foreign ministers.
At the end of the discussions, chairmanship in BSEC was transferred from Azerbaijan to Bulgaria. Bulgaria will chair the organization for the next six months from November 2009 through April 2010.
Meanwhile, a group of activists of the hardline Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) gathered outside the Hyatt Regency hotel where the BSEC meeting was taking place and chanted slogans denouncing the Armenian deputy foreign minister`s visit to Azerbaijan. The protesters were blocked by police. Six protesters were detained and taken to a police precinct, but were released after receiving a warning.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for over a decade.
Mammadguliyev told reporters that there was a need for change in BSEC to turn it into a more ``mobile`` group, saying the organization should focus more on implementing specific projects and enforcing those decisions approved by the members.
According to the deputy minister, the private sector should be more involved in the cooperation among the BSEC member states to ensure the successful development of such interaction.
``Work to that end has already begun. A meeting of the BSEC countries` experts devoted to this topic was held in the past few days at Azerbaijan`s initiative.``
Mammadguliyev noted that, so far, it has been impossible to hold a conference to discuss reform because decisions in the BSEC are passed based on a consensus.
Baku hosted a meeting of the BSEC foreign ministers on Thursday. The event was attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan. It was joined by the ministers of Bulgaria, Moldova and Albania, while Russia, Greece, Serbia, Georgia, Romania and Ukraine were represented by their deputy foreign ministers.
At the end of the discussions, chairmanship in BSEC was transferred from Azerbaijan to Bulgaria. Bulgaria will chair the organization for the next six months from November 2009 through April 2010.
Meanwhile, a group of activists of the hardline Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) gathered outside the Hyatt Regency hotel where the BSEC meeting was taking place and chanted slogans denouncing the Armenian deputy foreign minister`s visit to Azerbaijan. The protesters were blocked by police. Six protesters were detained and taken to a police precinct, but were released after receiving a warning.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for over a decade.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!