Xenophon Paper 2 pdf - ICBSS

Between optimism and pessimism: Armenia’s coherent, but non-pursued objectives
Turkey’s recognition of Armenia’s independence in 1991, the opening of the Armenian-
Turkish border on the one hand, and the traditional solidarity and friendship with Georgia
along with the common goal of immediate liberation from the Soviet Empire on the other
hand, brought about hopes in Armenia that the Black Sea bridge connecting the country
to Europe would function permanently and that collaboration would reach maximum
capacity. The objectives and principles set out in the founding documents (e.g. the
Istanbul Declaration and Bosphorus Statement—of the Istanbul Summit on Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC) signed on 25 June 1992, by the heads of states and
governments of 11 countries—Armenia, Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece,
Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine) brought optimism concerning Armenia’s
pursued objectives. The BSEC was seen as an attempt to institutionalise the region
bridging Europe and Asia.
Specifically in the Istanbul Declaration and the Bosphorus Statement, the signing countries
were “taking into account the profound and rapid changes in Europe and the determination
of the peoples of the continent to shape a new era of peace and security on the basis
of the principles laid down in the Helsinki Final Act and follow up CSCE documents,
particularly in the Charter of Paris for a new Europe”. 3 The second point in the Declaration
recognised “that a prosperous and united Europe will evolve on shared values such as
democracy based on human rights and fundamental freedoms, prosperity through
economic liberty and social justice, and equal security for all countries”. Subsequently,
all countries – including Armenia – which had launched the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation were, on the one hand, anticipating the expansion of New Europe and the
dissemination of its value system toward this region, and “taking into consideration the
potential of the Participating States and the opportunities for enhancing the mutually
advantageous economic cooperation arising from their geographic proximity and from
the reform process and structural adjustments” on the other.
The 25 June 1992, Bosphorus Statement stated that, “With a shared vision of the future
and through mutual cooperation, the Heads of State and Government looked forward
to the transformation of the Black Sea into a region of peace, freedom, stability and
prosperity. They stressed that in the building of the new architecture of Europe, their
countries and peoples had an important and creative contribution to make and that the
Black Sea Economic Cooperation constituted an effort that would facilitate the processes
and structures of European integration”.
3 BSEC (1992), ‘Summit Declaration on Black Sea Economic Cooperation’, Istanbul, 25 June.
14 UNFOLDING THE BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION VIEWS FROM THE REGION