ANTALYA, Türkiye, April 11. Strengthening connectivity in the Black Sea region and developing sustainable cooperation remain key priorities for the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Organization, the Secretary-General of BSEC, Lazar Comanescu, told Trend on the sidelines of the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
"I participated in a panel discussion focused on connectivity and development in the era of digitalization. This topic is directly related to the work of our organization, as global economic trends increasingly highlight the importance of connections between Europe and Asia," he said.
According to him, international connectivity projects such as the Middle Corridor, the "Belt and Road Initiative," and the "Global Gateways" play a vital role. "Whatever efforts you make to develop these directions—whether in goods transportation, energy, or communications—the Black Sea region becomes a focal point," Comănescu noted.
He added that issues related to trade expansion, energy, environmental protection, and agriculture are clearly outlined in the updated BSEC Economic Agenda, adopted in late 2023.
"We are currently working on its implementation. In this context, we are closely cooperating with Azerbaijan, which holds the BSEC chairmanship in the first half of 2025. I highly appreciate the attention and support provided by the Azerbaijani chairmanship," he said.
Comanescu also addressed the issue of climate change and the organization's involvement in preparing for global climate goals.
"In November last year, the COP29 summit was held in Baku, and thanks to the Azerbaijani authorities, BSEC participated in it for the first time. We are now actively working to further involve our organization in processes related to fulfilling international climate commitments," he concluded.
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