5th meeting of energy ministers of BSEC member states held
in Yerevan
20-03-2009 18:00:00 | Armenia | Economy
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.