LAVROV VISIT HIGHLIGHTS RUSSIA'S 2006 BSEC AGENDA

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