May 22, began a summit on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the organization of black sea economic cooperation (BSEC). This initiative is one of the important breakthroughs of Turkey’s foreign policy. But it is difficult to say that these efforts have generated the desired results. Before, the organization faces a number of obstacles.
Active foreign policy of Turkey, built on the manifestation of close interest to the countries adjacent to it, and the promotion of peace and stability in the surrounding region, contrary to the General opinion did not arise at the beginning of the XXI century, and at the end of the twentieth century. The reason for the need for it was the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Over the past 25 years on the stage of international relations has been such a shocking event that how big the effect of the collapse of the Soviet Union made the system is often overlooked. However, this event was the reason for the more drastic changes than even what happened ten years disaster with the twin towers, and the Arab revolt 20 years later.
First of all, changed the structure and dynamics of East — West. All countries that were previously members of the Warsaw Pact except the Soviet Union, today the members of NATO. Like Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, which were part of the Soviet Union. This situation caused even comments that the cold war was lost by Russia.
Over the past 25 years Russia has pulled himself together, and now it is the heavy tread again makes sense its influence on the stage of international relations. The problem is that this return is not using only peaceful methods. But Turkey feels sadness about the fact that important breakthroughs initiated 25 years ago, has not achieved the desired success.
With the initiative of the creation of BSEC in 1992, it’s worth understanding foreign policy based on the refusal of distinguishing between the neighbors and equal treatment of all players and the belief that they make a constructive contribution to peace and stability. So, Turkey, believing that the black sea region is inseparable from the Caucasus, along with Georgia without any discrimination and invited the BSEC Armenia and Azerbaijan adjacent to the region.
Moreover, Turkey foresaw that in the future the BSEC will be the leader of the process that evolyutsioniruet towards integration with the EU and NATO in the region, and made the same invitation to Greece, which is irrelevant to the Black sea and is a member of the EU and NATO.
BSEC is not a political organization, not organization for security. Since its establishment, it aimed at strengthening the business and trade relations between the member States and mutual understanding between peoples of member countries by providing social, cultural and economic rapprochement.
This situation was initially an important breakthrough for the countries of the former Communist block who did not have a free market economy in this area was in need of the experience of such countries as Turkey. It was assumed that the development of relations in these areas will play an important role in overcoming political tension that may arise between member countries.
BSEC, as usually happens in many multilateral organizations of the same type, created a Parliamentary Assembly (PABSEC). Over time, the PABSEC has prepared the ground for political discussions between the delegations at the bilateral level. Even if is not produced the decision, it’s important to build dialogue.
The presence of the Bank trade and development, the BSEC should be regarded as an initiative that will serve the goals of the organization. The Bank’s headquarters is in Thessaloniki.
However, the occurring political events gave rise to results that hamper the desired rapprochement between the BSEC and put political issues to the business relationship. The region has been replete with unresolved problems. The Transnistrian problem of Moldova, the war between Ukraine and Russia in 2014 and the annexation of Crimea by Russia, the developments in the East of Ukraine in the direction of the script, similar to Moldovan. Here are just some of these problems.
And in the Caucasus, a major unsolved problem is the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh. The territory of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia. Likewise, the territorial integrity of Georgia is also under threat due to the fact that the war between Russia and Georgia in 2008, Abkhazia and South Ossetia declared independence.
In these conditions multilateral cooperation, which implies BSEC, prevents tension in relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Russia and Georgia, Russia and Ukraine, Russia and Moldova. The main reason for these obstacles is Russia. It turns out that the country, which somehow hinders cooperation in the Black sea and creates unsolved problems, is Russia.
No one can argue that this conclusion is erroneous. But the view that certain conditions have prepared all these events should not be ignored. Finally, do not forget that despite all these problems, BSEC is a unique regional education, in which all these countries will be able to sit at the same table with Russia. In this case, it is necessary to believe that one of the most important factors of the solution lies in this Association, and to generate creative ideas we need, based on this.
The policy pursued by Russia, has really upped the tension and polarization in the black sea region. But based on the possibilities of cooperation, which creates BSEC, it is also possible to prepare the ground for the gradual overcoming of this tension.
The most important common denominator of Russia and Turkey in the Black sea, although they may not agree on all issues, the Montreux Convention and the Straits regime which it establishes. To guide Russia to a more open disposition to cooperation is possible through cooperative, not confrontational approach.
