Turkey's president expressed thought on Wednesday that member states should add a new dynamism to a regional organization in the Black Sea.

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul said that members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) should leave behind the status quo, and add a new dynamism and a new mentality to the organization.

"Turkey is not only one of the founder states of the organization, but also the country where the permanent secretariat of the organization is situated," Gul said during his visit to the BSEC Secretariat in Istanbul on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the foundation of the organization.

Gul also had separate meetings with BSEC Secretary General Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos, and the diplomats of BSEC member states.

President Gul said that making more cooperation in the region would not only contribute to economies of the member states but also strengthen the atmosphere of confidence and lessen bilateral tensions.

"Thus, stability and security in our region will be boosted and this is for the best interests of our region and the international community," Gul said.

Gul also said that Turkey was supporting all endeavors of the organization.

On 25 June 1992,the Heads of State and Government of eleven countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine signed in Istanbul the Summit Declaration and the Bosphorus Statement establishing the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).

It came into existence as a unique and promising model of multilateral political and economic initiative aimed at fostering interaction and harmony among the Member States, as well as to ensure peace, stability and prosperity encouraging friendly and good-neighbourly relations in the Black Sea region.

The organization has 12 members today, including Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.


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