BULGARIAN PRIORITES FOR BSEC CHAIRMANSHIP

UNCLAS ISTANBUL 000427 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECIN KSTC ODIP PREL TU BU SUBJECT: BULGARIAN PRIORITES FOR BSEC CHAIRMANSHIP ¶1. During a meeting at the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation in Istanbul on November 12, Deputy Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Marin Raykov accepted the organization's chairmanship on behalf of Bulgaria. Istanbul's Deputy Principal Officer attended on behalf of the United States, which has observers status at BSEC. ¶2. In a speech to members and observers , Raykov stressed the Bulgarian Chairmanship's priority on improving BSEC 's operational and organizational efficiency while increasing its activities and capacity. With regard to sectoral cooperation, Raykov said the Bulgarian Chairmanship intended to focus on energy, tourism, science and technology, transport infrastructure, and "soft security measures." ¶3. A copy of Mr. Raykov's speech and other relevant documents has been emailed to EUR/PGI. WIENER