BSEC REQUEST FOR OBSERVER VIEWS ON COOPERATION

UNCLAS ISTANBUL 000128 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECIN ETRD PO PREL TU SUBJECT: BSEC REQUEST FOR OBSERVER VIEWS ON COOPERATION REF: A. CHISINAU 84 ¶B. 05 ANKARA 6066 ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 3. ¶2. (SBU) Further to the BSEC Secretariat's late December request to observers to forward their views on how they envision cooperating with BSEC and its project development fund in future (copy faxed to EUR/SE),on February 1 BSEC forwarded Poland's response (the first it has received). ¶2. (SBU) Begin text: Poland wishes to continue its participation in the activities of BSEC as an observer country in the organization. We see the increasing importance of cooperation within the framework of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. Poland also regards the cooperation within the Black Sea as paramount (with its huge potential and inestimable geostrategic role) both in the regional, European, as well as in the global contexts. Being conscious of the importance of regional cooperation and seeing in this cooperation a very important stabilising, security ensuring mechanism Poland wishes to be part of it not only in the Central European area but also -- to the extent possible-- in the wider European area, including the Black Sea basin. Poland being an active member of the Visegrad group, the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Central European Initiative, the Regional Partnership as well as a country involved in the BSEC, Northern Dimension, Artic Council and Barents Sea Council cooperation platforms has collected significant experience and know-how in regional cooperation. We have had the opportunity and honour to chair in the past 3 years the work in the CEI, CBSS, and the Council of Europe. We therefore believe our input to the cooperation in the BSEC can be substantial and above all useful. We are thus open to share not only our own experience from the socio-economic transformation period but also our pratical "acquis" stemming from presiding these regional groupings. Poland is interested in closely following BSEC initiatives, assisting the implementation of BSEC priorities and contributing to concrete activities in the areas of i.a.: SME development and trade, transport and energy infrastructure development, promotion of tourism, cooperation in the areas of culture, education and science, transfrontier (cross-border) cooperation know-how sharing. We are also envisaging the possibility of making use of the development assistance to the benefit of the BSEC member states. End text. ¶3. (SBU) Action request: Consulate seconds Chisinau's request for guidance on U.S. plans for cooperation with BSEC and its project development fund in order to respond to BSEC's inquiry. JONES