BSEC SECGEN PUSHES FOR ACTIVE U.S. ROLE

UNCLAS ANKARA 006066

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN ETRD PREL TU
SUBJECT: BSEC SECGEN PUSHES FOR ACTIVE U.S. ROLE

REF: ISTANBUL 1603

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.


1. (SBU) In a September 27 meeting with Charge,
Ambassador Tedo Japaridze was delighted that Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC) "senior officials" had agreed
to U.S. observer status in the organization. This would
make his job of making BSEC a more effective
organization. He said the decision would be formalized
at the upcoming BSEC Ministerial in Chisinau October 25-

26.


2. (SBU) Japaridze said it would send a useful signal
if the United States, perhaps represented by the U.S.
Mission in Chisinau, could participate in the
Ministerial. For the longer term, Japaridze saw
potential for a U.S. role in BSEC's energy,
transportation, and "soft security" agendas and urged us
to work with the incoming BSEC chair, Romania, to find
areas for fruitful interaction.

MCELDOWNEY