Black Sea Region States United by Commitment to Common System of Values

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.