site.btaBulgaria Will Seek Security and De-escalation in the Black Sea Region, Parliament Leader Says at Meeting with BSEC Secretary General

In a meeting with the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Secretary General Lazar Comanescu, Bulgarian Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova shared hopes here Tuesday that Bulgaria will contribute to restoring peace, security and cooperation in Europe during its BSEC Chairmanship-in-office, Parliament's press centre reported.

Bulgaria being at the helm of both the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) and BSEC is an opportunity for Bulgaria to play an active role and strive for deeper cooperation amidst global instability, while seeking to ensure security and calm in the Black Sea region, Kiselova added.

Hosting the 66th General Assembly of PABSEC, Bulgarian Parliament will raise questions and seek consensus on protection of marine cleanliness, cooperation in energy, communications, transport, and tourism, Kiselova said. She expressed confidence that MP Petar Kanev, Head of the Bulgarian delegation to PABSEC, will contribute to realigning the organization with its founding goal - economic cooperation among Black Sea countries.

Lazar Comanescu expressed confidence in the prospects for improved cooperation and coordination among BSEC member states. With the support of other regional organizations, he said, there is potential to launch many projects that would significantly contribute to economic cooperation. Comanescu stressed that such cooperation can play an important role in strengthening security and long-term stability, which are urgently needed in the region.

Petar Kanev extended an invitation to Comanescu to take part in events that Bulgaria will organize during its term as Chair of PABSEC.

As BTA reported, the Bulgarian government has defined four key priorities for its BSEC Chairmanship: environmental protection and sustainable management of marine resources; cultural and educational exchange and tourism in the Black Sea region; regional resilience and crisis management; and cooperation with the European Union and other regional organizations.

As of July 1, the Bulgarian National Assembly accepted the six-month Chairmanship of PABSEC, following a visit to Azerbaijan in June by a delegation led by Kiselova to participate in the 65th PABSEC General Assembly.