Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ISTANBUL961
2006-06-02 10:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Istanbul
Cable title:
LAVROV VISIT HIGHLIGHTS RUSSIA'S 2006 BSEC AGENDA
how-tonull Dianne Wampler 06/02/2006 12:55:31 PM From DB/Inbox: Dianne Wampler Cable Text: UNCLAS ISTANBUL 00961 SIPDIS CX: ACTION: ECON INFO: CONS PA RAO FAS MGT PMA FCS POL DCM AMB DISSEMINATION: ECON /1 CHARGE: PROG VZCZCAYO021 RR RUEHAK DE RUEHIT #0961/01 1531018 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 021018Z JUN 06 FM AMCONSUL ISTANBUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5108 INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ALMATY 0078 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5171 RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 0701 RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0027 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 0030 RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 0132 RUEHCH/AMEMBASSY CHISINAU 0044 RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KIEV 0088 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0300 RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA 0196 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 0104 RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA 0061 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0023 RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN 0067 RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 2223 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 000961
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN ETTC KFPC KTIA TU XG
SUBJECT: LAVROV VISIT HIGHLIGHTS RUSSIA'S 2006 BSEC AGENDA
Sensitive but unclassified. Not for internet distribution.
This message was coordinated with Embassy Ankara.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 000961
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN ETTC KFPC KTIA TU XG
SUBJECT: LAVROV VISIT HIGHLIGHTS RUSSIA'S 2006 BSEC AGENDA
Sensitive but unclassified. Not for internet distribution.
This message was coordinated with Embassy Ankara.
1. (SBU) Summary: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
outlined Russia's priorities for Black Sea economic
cooperation for its six-month period as "Chairman in Office"
in a brief address to representatives and observers to BSEC
at the organization's Istanbul secretariat on Thursday, June
1. He called for deeper cooperation to ensure that the
organization has a more "practical orientation' and produces
results that are "more visible" to the public in BSEC
countries. Directing a portion of his remarks directly to
observer states, he also stressed Russia's openness to
cooperation with countries beyond the region, arguing that
their "intellectual and and administrative resources" can
significantly enrich BSEC's activities. End Summary.
2. (U) Lavrov's BSEC program immediately preceded his
departure from Turkey. In a brief 15-minute address, he
noted the organization's success in encouraging cooperation
on issues ranging from combating organized crime and
terrorism to protection against infectious diseases. He
expressed support for recent initiatives to ensure BSEC
activities have increased practical effect, pointing
specifically to implementation of joint investment
initiatives, large-scale infrastructure, transport,
environmental and other projects. Among the specific ideas
he mentioned were the coordinated development of highways
around the Black Sea to facilitate transportation, resumption
of regular passenger service among Black Sea ports under
BSEC's aegis, and the Black Sea Electric Power Ring Project,
which Russia initiated. By the end of 2006, he predicted,
there should be "clarity" regarding synchronization of power
grids in Europe, the CIS countries, and the Baltic region.
3. (U) Lavrov emphasized the ambitious nature of Russia's
program for its six-month chairmanship in office, with over
60 events, including Ministerial meetings, international
conferences, working groups, seminars, roundtables and
exhibitions. The calendar will kick off early next week with
a meeting of Ministers of Emergency Situations from June 6-7
in Sochi. In outlining this program, Lavro invited Member
States and observers to participate in the full range of
organization activities. Addressing himself directly to the
latter, he predicted that the importance of BSEC as a "key
cooperation organization" will rise in the future, and
stressed that it is open to "any kind of cooperation with the
countries beyond the region." He suggested that the
intellectual and administrative resources of observer
countries "can significantly enrich" BSEC's activities,
helping it diversify and more efficiently address its
practical challenges.
4. (SBU) Lavrov also directed a few pointed messages to the
Secretariat and its new chairman, Ambassador Leonidas
SIPDIS
Chrysanthopoulos of Greece. He argued that to date
cooperation between BSEC and its affiliated bodies (the
Parliamentary Assembly, the Black Sea Trade and Development
Bank, the BSEC Business Council, and the International Center
for Black Sea Studies) has been "underexploited." He
suggested that certain changes in BSEC administration may be
necessary to deepen this cooperation, though he was careful
to stress that no revision of organization statutes would be
required. He argued an increase in the organization's budget
would be appropriate, however, together with engagement of
additional staff. Most notably, he urged Chrysanthopoulos to
"increase his control" over staff performance in implementing
BSEC council decisions and proposals, arguing that their
approach "should not only be responsible and dutiful," but
also creative and marked by initiative.
5. (SBU) Comment: The June 1 meeting was an added indication
of renewed Russian activism in BSEC and its desire to take
full advantage of its Chairmanship-in-Office, which runs from
May to November 2006. The full program of BSEC events over
the next six months, together with further elaboration of
Russia's priorities, is available on the BSEC web site:
http://www.bsec-organization.org
JONES
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN ETTC KFPC KTIA TU XG
SUBJECT: LAVROV VISIT HIGHLIGHTS RUSSIA'S 2006 BSEC AGENDA
Sensitive but unclassified. Not for internet distribution.
This message was coordinated with Embassy Ankara.
1. (SBU) Summary: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
outlined Russia's priorities for Black Sea economic
cooperation for its six-month period as "Chairman in Office"
in a brief address to representatives and observers to BSEC
at the organization's Istanbul secretariat on Thursday, June
1. He called for deeper cooperation to ensure that the
organization has a more "practical orientation' and produces
results that are "more visible" to the public in BSEC
countries. Directing a portion of his remarks directly to
observer states, he also stressed Russia's openness to
cooperation with countries beyond the region, arguing that
their "intellectual and and administrative resources" can
significantly enrich BSEC's activities. End Summary.
2. (U) Lavrov's BSEC program immediately preceded his
departure from Turkey. In a brief 15-minute address, he
noted the organization's success in encouraging cooperation
on issues ranging from combating organized crime and
terrorism to protection against infectious diseases. He
expressed support for recent initiatives to ensure BSEC
activities have increased practical effect, pointing
specifically to implementation of joint investment
initiatives, large-scale infrastructure, transport,
environmental and other projects. Among the specific ideas
he mentioned were the coordinated development of highways
around the Black Sea to facilitate transportation, resumption
of regular passenger service among Black Sea ports under
BSEC's aegis, and the Black Sea Electric Power Ring Project,
which Russia initiated. By the end of 2006, he predicted,
there should be "clarity" regarding synchronization of power
grids in Europe, the CIS countries, and the Baltic region.
3. (U) Lavrov emphasized the ambitious nature of Russia's
program for its six-month chairmanship in office, with over
60 events, including Ministerial meetings, international
conferences, working groups, seminars, roundtables and
exhibitions. The calendar will kick off early next week with
a meeting of Ministers of Emergency Situations from June 6-7
in Sochi. In outlining this program, Lavro invited Member
States and observers to participate in the full range of
organization activities. Addressing himself directly to the
latter, he predicted that the importance of BSEC as a "key
cooperation organization" will rise in the future, and
stressed that it is open to "any kind of cooperation with the
countries beyond the region." He suggested that the
intellectual and administrative resources of observer
countries "can significantly enrich" BSEC's activities,
helping it diversify and more efficiently address its
practical challenges.
4. (SBU) Lavrov also directed a few pointed messages to the
Secretariat and its new chairman, Ambassador Leonidas
SIPDIS
Chrysanthopoulos of Greece. He argued that to date
cooperation between BSEC and its affiliated bodies (the
Parliamentary Assembly, the Black Sea Trade and Development
Bank, the BSEC Business Council, and the International Center
for Black Sea Studies) has been "underexploited." He
suggested that certain changes in BSEC administration may be
necessary to deepen this cooperation, though he was careful
to stress that no revision of organization statutes would be
required. He argued an increase in the organization's budget
would be appropriate, however, together with engagement of
additional staff. Most notably, he urged Chrysanthopoulos to
"increase his control" over staff performance in implementing
BSEC council decisions and proposals, arguing that their
approach "should not only be responsible and dutiful," but
also creative and marked by initiative.
5. (SBU) Comment: The June 1 meeting was an added indication
of renewed Russian activism in BSEC and its desire to take
full advantage of its Chairmanship-in-Office, which runs from
May to November 2006. The full program of BSEC events over
the next six months, together with further elaboration of
Russia's priorities, is available on the BSEC web site:
http://www.bsec-organization.org
JONES