First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia attended the Informal Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), organized by Romania’s current Chairmanship.

Representatives of twelve countries (Serbia, Russia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, Hellenic Republic, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Albania) meet regularly on the UNGA fringes. The Meeting was attended also by Johannes Hahn, EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.

The talks mainly focused on the Organization’s more effective operation and greater participation of the Member States in its work. In the context of preparations for the observance of the 25th BSEC anniversary, to be held in 2017, the participants agreed on the need for modifying and reforming the Organization, and improving the operation of Working Groups, as they are the essence of the Organization. One of the themes of the meeting were emerging problems and challenges, including the migrant issue in the region.

Minister Dacic drew attention to the need to avoid political connotations in the work of the Organization, adding that greater attention should be devoted to the selection of topics to the effect of finding a common ground. He supported the Organization’s project orientation and particularly the implementation of the existing projects. Bearing in mind that Serbia will take over the BSEC Chairmanship from Russia, on 1 July next year (for a period of 6 months), he underlined that Serbia’s chairmanship will be focused on economic and trade cooperation, and accordingly, deepening of the relations with the EU and other organizations including the Euro Asian Customs Union (Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus).