YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. A regular - 5th meeting of energy ministers of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) member states was held in Yerevan on March 20. The meeting was attended by representatives of Russia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Egypt and Iran. Representatives of the U.S, the EU, the UN, the World Bank and the USAID were also invited. The BSEC Secretary General Altay Efendiyev said that among issues discussed were such subjects as "The Increasing Role of the Extended Black Sea Region in the Issue of Raising Regional, EU and General Energy Security", "Promotion of International Cooperation, including with the EU, in Regional Energy Sector; Development of Long-Term Action Strategy in Energy Sector", "Regional Energy Studies", etc. The EU-BSEC joint action plan was also discussed at the meeting. According to A. Efendiyev, studies of energy resources are currently being conducted in the region, and a meeting will be organized in September with the aim of summarizing the results of the studies. He underlined that the BSEC Action PLan will form a serious basis for further promotion of energy cooperation. The Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Arman Kirakosian said that the Armenian side has taken a number of important steps for integration into the regional energy system. Armenia has also developed an action plan aimed at strengthening cooperation with the EU and the BSEC. By the action plan, Armenia as a possible transit country can contribute to energy stability and security in the region. The RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisian pointed out that the purpose of the regular meeting of BSEC energy ministers is to work out a joint plan of EU-BSEC cooperation. "Turkey is also a member of the BSEC, and naturally, being members of this organization, both of us are guided by the rules and decisions taken by the BSEC," the minister stated. In the words of A. Movsisian, cooperation within the framework of the BSEC gives the opportunity to raise energy security in the region, also to develop electricity links among BSEC member states, other regional and EU countries and to integrate their energy markets.

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