BLACK SEA REGION STATES UNITED BY COMMITMENT TO COMMON SYSTEM OF VALUES
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.06.2006 18:50 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Countries of the Black Sea region have rich and at
the same time dramatic history of co-existence,” Armenian President
Robert Kocharian stated when addressing Black Sea Forum for Dialogue
and Partnership. “The Black Sea has always been a center of strategic
interest. This led to many devastating wars that have formed its
current political map, ethnic and religious diversity.
However, this all has also resulted in substantial interrelation of
our cultures and traditions.
Partially that is why there are so many similarities in the process
of transformation underway in our countries. This is true in case
with the internal transformation, aimed at deepening of democracy and
transparency of the society. This also influences the shaping of new
types of foreign interactions in the context of the changing world.
We are present at the formation of new dynamic processes, changing
the region, forming new perceptions about it. Two objective questions
come across: how possible is a common direction of development of the
region? Will this lead to the formation of the new regional identity,
based on a common interest and inherited cultural interaction?
Our Forum is called to address these challenging issues,” the Armenian
leader remarked.
“We shall first evaluate the level of motivation in each country of the
region. Secondly, we shall work out approaches increasing our mutual
will for partnership. For Armenia, with limited natural resources
and emphasized entrepreneurial mentality of the people, the choice
was clear. Transformation for us primarily meant the liberalization
of economy, open trade regimes, and a competitive environment. These
reforms substantially changed the structure of Armenian economy. Today
over 85 per cent of GDP is produced in private sector, with over 40
per cent of it being produced in small and medium businesses.
Annual growth of GDP during last five years has averaged at above
12 per cent. It is natural, that we watch openness and regional
cooperation as the most effective way for our development. Only lazy
people do not speak about benefits of regional cooperation. It is an
axiom, which however comes across many obstacles, which are often of
a subjective nature.
There is a need for pragmatic evaluation of the positive and negative
realities.
Let us first assess what unites us: – Commitment to a common system
of values and readiness to play along the same rules.
– Obvious, tangible economic benefit of regional integration processes.
– Common challenges and threats to the stability and security caused
by the increasing transnational crime, extremism and terrorism.
Meanwhile, we are divided by: – Unresolved ethnic conflicts, – Certain
deficit of trust, caused by the negative experiences of the history
of the region.
I am confident that we shall concentrate on those elements which
unite us. We shall take steps to harmonize our reforms, achieve
unification of trade regimes and transportation tariffs. There is
a need for joint investment projects in the infrastructures of the
region. First of all, for energy and transportation projects, covering
the entire Black Sea basin, and increasing its economic attractiveness.
This will create favorable environment for resolution of existing
conflicts. Through cooperation to the settlement, through communication
to a bigger trust – that is the best formula for overcoming the
controversies, based on a search for a common interest,” Robert
Kocharian said, reported RA leader’s press office.