Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ISTANBUL2146
2006-12-11 07:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Istanbul
Cable title:  

FOREIGN MINISTER DRASKOVIC LAUNCHES SERBIAN BSEC

Tags:  PREL SENV KCRM EU TU SR 
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UNCLAS ISTANBUL 002146 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SENV KCRM EU TU SR
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER DRASKOVIC LAUNCHES SERBIAN BSEC
CHAIRMANSHIP

Sensitive but Unclassified. Please protect accordingly.

UNCLAS ISTANBUL 002146

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SENV KCRM EU TU SR
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER DRASKOVIC LAUNCHES SERBIAN BSEC
CHAIRMANSHIP

Sensitive but Unclassified. Please protect accordingly.


1. (SBU) Summary: On November 29, Serbian Foreign Minister
Vuk Draskovic formally launched the six-month Serbian BSEC
Chairmanship with a speech to BSEC representatives, observers
and related bodies. FM Draskovic's remarks were followed by
brief comments by the BSEC Secretary-General and a short
question period. In a departure from the norm, the meeting
lasted less than an hour and was conflict-free. Most
attendees - including FM Draskovic - also attended the
opening event of the Papal visit to Istanbul at the
Patriarchate later that afternoon, which almost certainly
contributed to the speed and efficiency of the proceedings.
End Summary.


2. (SBU) Draskovic began by noting the importance to the
region of the NATO decision to admit Serbia, Montenegro and
Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Partnership for Peace. He
emphasized that the decision will contribute to the stability
and European perspective of the Western Balkans and
South-Eastern Europe, a vital area for BSEC. He explained
that parliamentary elections would take place in Serbia on
January 21 precluding BSEC meetings in December and January.
He noted his expectation that a new government would take
office by the end of January.


3. (U) He described Serbian priorities for the next six
months including an enhanced focus on the Danube and
cooperation with international organizations. Serbia hopes a
renewed emphasis on meetings that include sectoral experts as
well as business leaders and World Bank officials in addition
to diplomats will help re-orient BSEC to focus on concrete
areas of cooperation including crime, the economy, the
environment and culture. Serbia plans to build on the
Russian Chairman's successful organization of meetings of
Ministers of Transportation to broaden BSEC beyond its focus
on international affairs and hopes to bring together the BSEC
Ministers of Transportation, Communication and Culture to
discuss projects relevant to their ministries with the goal
of helping the people of the BSEC member states live better
lives.


4. (SBU) BSEC Secretary General Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos
also underscored the importance of the Riga decision for the
stability of the European area. He described two primary
BSEC priorities: transportation projects and BSEC-EU
interaction. Chrysanthopoulos expects BSEC Transportation
Ministers to sign project documents for the Balck Sea Ring
Highway and Waterways of the Sea projects in February or
March following the completion of internal ratification
procedures. According to Chrysanthopoulos, every member
state has initialed the proposals and most have completed
internal procedures. He expects that the ministers will
convene an informal meeting as an adjunct to the signing
ceremony at BSEC's headquarters in Istanbul.
Chrysanthopoulos described progress on BSEC-EU interaction,
noting that the upcoming troika meeting should address this
issue. He has met bilaterally with the Commission, Finland
and Germany and hopes to be able to inaugurate an enhanced
relationship with the EU at the Istanbul Summit in June

2007. BSEC currently has no mechanism to deal on an
institutional basis with the EU; BSEC members must seek EU
support on a bilateral basis. The enhanced relationship
would provide a mechanism to work directly with the
Commission on BSEC initiatives.

JONES