Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-04-26

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Deputy FM Stylianidis at BSEC meeting

[01] Deputy FM Stylianidis at BSEC meeting

The initiative which Greece undertook last year, when it held BSEC's presidency, for the approach to the EU, in parallel with the policy of European Neighbourliness, was appreciated at the meeting by BSEC's member states. Such a dimension of cooperation of the EU in a region which constitutes an energy crossroad, will give the possibility for the use of new funding tools, with beneficial economic and political results for both sides, Stylianidis said at the close of the meeting.

The Greek Foreign Ministry, which has been authorised by the BSEC countries to negotiate with the EU presidency for the growth of the Black Sea Dimension on the model of the Northern Dimension in Northern Europe, has conducted a series of contacts with the Austrian EU presidency which was present at the Bucharest meeting, like all the major powers, the U.S., China and Japan. Greek diplomacy seeks the inclusion in the conclusions of the summit meeting, if not at the current, of the next presidency, of a special reference for the development of this dimension with the Black Sea countries and has received from Brussels the first positive messages.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Stylianidis had the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Russia, Albania and of host country Romania.

With Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, as well as with his Romanian counterpart Teodor Baconschi, Stylianidis discussed the controversial hosting by the Romanian government of the Black Sea Forum which is scheduled for June 5 in Bucharest, with security issues in the region at its focus.

On the holding of the forum in question, at which countries in and out of BSEC have been invited, Greece expressed reservations and insists on the position that such an initiative can be developned within BSEC. Reservations have also been expressed by Turkey, while refusal has been expressed by Russia. It must be noted that Russia and Turkey, along with Greece, constitute the three strongest powers of the organisation and its main funders.

A Greek success is also viewed the decision of the meeting to set up, following a Greek proposal, a Working Group for cultural cooperation, which can bring the member-states closer, as well as certain countries which have problems between them, while noted was the enormous cultural heritage which most of these twelve BSEC countries have.

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