ISTANBUL - Turkish Daily News


Albania will work toward ensuring freer trade between Black Sea countries the country's foreign minister said at the headquarters of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) in Istanbul yesterday.

“We have a keen interest in convening a summit with trade ministers” Lulzim Basha said during a ceremony organized for the occasion of Albania taking over BSEC chairmanship.

Basha gave assurances to other member countries that Albania plans to respect the interests of all participants. "BSEC will only be successful by synergizing and harmonizing the interests of all participants" he said.

Albania has promised to conserve BSEC's structural reforms under prior chairmanships enhance the relationship between BSEC and international actors ––– particularly the EU – and increase inter-organizational communication between member states. By increasing the visibility of the organization Basha said hşs country hopes to achieve "equally balanced participation by all states."

Noting the diverse polity that makes up BSEC members Basha said this organization was founded on the basis of a common sense of historic "regional ownership."

BSEC was formed in 1992 as a multilateral initiative aimed at fostering interaction and harmony among its member states.