SPEECH AT THE SUMMIT OF THE BLACK SEA FORUM FOR DIALOGUE AND PARTNERSHIP
Lragir.am
05 June 06
Your Excellency, President Basesku,
Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen:
First of all, let me thank President Basesku for initiating this
Forum and for the extended hospitality.
Countries of the Black Sea region have rich and at the same time
dramatic history of co-existence. The Black Sea has always been a
center of strategic interest. This lead 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.
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.
In this context we are ready to continue dialogue with Azerbaijan
for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict and with Turkey
on establishing relations without any preconditions.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I would like to briefly touch upon the Nagorno Karabagh conflict and
our vision for its settlement.
The people of Nagorno Karabagh have implemented in practice the right
for self-determination. It was done fully in line with the requirements
of international law. Results of the referendum on independence were
later defended in the war forced on that people.
These events developed in the timeframe of global changes, related
to the collapse of the Soviet Empire. That situation is classical
for cases of self-determination through secesion.
Now for fifteen years Nagorno Karabagh Republic continues to prove its
right for independence by own achievements in effective statecraft. A
whole generation grew up there, which watches itself as possessors
and defenders of that statehood. We believe that there is a need for
effective efforts for a full-scale integration of the Republic in
the international society.
Dear colleagues:
We have an organization – the BSEC, which is the platform for
exploration of the economic potential of our region. I am confident
this Forum and the Declaration we intend to adopt will become a good
stimulus for BSEC’s further activities. They are called to signal
the existence of political will at the highest level for furthering
our partnership.
In conclusion, I would like to once again thank the organizers of
the Forum. I hope it will contribute towards strengthening stability,
security and cooperation in the Black Sea region.
Thank you for your attention.