Athens , 24 February 2009

Keynote speaker Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. T. Kassimis closed the proceedings of the Black Sea Conference on Regional Integration and Inclusive Growth, which took place in Athens on 23-24 February and was organized by the World Bank, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In his address, Mr. Kassimis referred to the great dynamic of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation organization (BSEC), mainly in the sectors of energy and transportation, noting at the same time that important measures are still required in the infrastructure sector.

He expressed Greece’s satisfaction at the strong ties that have been developed between the BSEC and the EU – ties that are a long-standing pursuit of Greek foreign policy.

“The Black Sea region is an area of major importance in the expanding EU neighbourhood,” Mr. Kassimis noted, adding that the BSEC countries need to intensify their efforts within the framework of the Black Sea Synergy, which was officially launched on February 14, 2008, in Kyiv. “The [Black Sea Synergy] initiative aims for cooperation in a wide range of areas, including democracy, respect for human rights, good governance, security, environment, trade, energy and transport.”