“The Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) definitely has not only the duty but also the capability to further contribute to the development of economic cooperation in this region,” said Lazar Comanescu, Secretary General of BSEC, at a briefing in Tbilisi with Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili.
“I am particularly pleased and honoured to be back in Tbilisi, and I thank you very much, Madam Minister, and the Georgian government for having organised such a substantive and rich programme for our visit. This is yet another clear proof of the importance and high attention that Georgia, a founding member of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation, has given to this organisation. I have to say that I’ve been here in Tbilisi every year since I took over as Secretary General of this organisation—at least once a year, I’ve been in Tbilisi, always participating in events, discussions and talks related to the BSEC. That’s yet another clear proof, as I said, of how important the BSEC organisation is for Georgia, and I’m very grateful for the contribution that Georgia has been bringing to this organisation. I’m absolutely convinced, as the Minister was just saying, that under the Georgian chairmanship-in-office over this first semester of 2026, the organisation will be able to make further advances in promoting its objectives. Though, as was mentioned here by the Minister, we are still going through a period where we are facing very serious challenges. But I would say, on the other hand, that these serious challenges and the fact that the organisation has been able to continue its work prove that it is a resilient organisation, and that there is an awareness within all the member states about the value that this organisation brings,” Lazar Comanescu stated.
He also stated that all member states play a role in the function of this organization.
“I’m absolutely confident that after what we have already discussed today and what I will continue to discuss later on, when I will have the honour of being received by the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Parliament—I’m absolutely convinced, as I said, that with the contribution of the Georgian chairmanship-in-office, we’ll be able to make further progress and again take advantage of the opportunities these challenges present, in the sense that under the current circumstances, regional cooperation becomes even more important, and the BSEC definitely has not only the duty but also the capability to further contribute to the development of economic cooperation in this region.
It is in this context that we reviewed together where we stand in terms of the activities of the organisation and what we can do to further make progress towards our objectives. I think that we have a basis. There are important decisions that have been taken in the last couple of years.
We have a strategic framework document which provides us with lines of action—a new BSEC economic agenda we adopted in December 2023. We have a project development fund which is now becoming operational and where, together with the Georgian chairmanship-in-office, we may look at opportunities to continue implementation of some projects. One of them is with the contribution of Georgia, by the way. We’ll look into initiating other projects. Particular attention will be given to areas like connectivity and energy. I fully agree that in terms of, for example, tourism and cultural exchanges, this region of the Black Sea has immense potential. And we have to realise it.
Of course, the Minister was referring also to the security challenges which we have been and are having to cope with in this part of the world. I would simply add to what the Minister was saying that there is an extremely important economic dimension to security.
Through the development of economic cooperation, we contribute to long-term, predictable, stable security in our region. This is what we are here for. Once again, Madam Minister, you may count 100 per cent on the commitment and readiness of the Permanent Secretariat, under your guidance, to do whatever is necessary to be successful, and I’m sure that the Georgian presidency-in-office of the organisation will be a successful one,” BSEC Secretary General concluded.
