Xenophon Paper 2 pdf - ICBSS

number of foreign tourists who also visit Armenia. The new administration in Georgia
which came to power through the ‘Rose Revolution’, became alluring for Armenian
businessmen too. President Sakhashvili soon spoke in favour of encouraging and
protecting Armenian investments in the Georgian shores of the Black Sea. In a matter
of two years, this statement considerably increased the volume of Armenian investments
in Georgia, and the number of Armenian tourists visiting Georgia.
Again, the absence of diplomatic ties and Armenia’s closed borders with its immediate
neighbours (specifically with Turkey) all stand in the way of cooperation in matters such
as combating illegal immigration and organised crime (including the clandestine trade
of narcotics, weapons, and radioactive material), border patrol, providing emergency
assistance, and institutional and social sectors. Thousands of Armenians emigrate to
Turkey, unprotected and primarily on an illegal basis, in search of temporary work.
Armenia, along with other Caucasus countries and former Soviet states, is a source of
human trafficking. Turkey is considered a final destination for this crime, with thousands
of Armenians again falling victim to human trade in that country. The absence of formal
relations will never make it possible to wage battle against such transgressions. The
situation bars not only the opportunity to provide and exchange accurate information,
but also the chance to resolve problems adequately and jointly as stipulated by the
Regional Centre for Combating Trans-border Crime, founded in 1999 for the countries
of the western Black Sea basin.
The academic collaboration among the universities of BSEC member countries - including
Armenia - started out in 1997 by the initiative of the Black Sea University Network. The
university network comprises over fifty universities, including Yerevan State University.
The BSEC Standing Academic Committee was established in 1998 with the aim of
benefiting academic cooperation and providing assistance to joint scientific projects.
Numerous Armenian scientific and research centres were likewise included — though
not to the extent of the scientific institutions of other BSEC countries — in a number of
multilateral projects. It is also worth mentioning the establishment of the Council of
Presidents of the National Science Academies and the Commission of National
Coordinators of BSEC Member Countries. The decision to that effect was reached during
the sixth meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which was held in Kyiv,
on 25 April 2002. 12 There is, however, a more intensive collaboration among the NGOs
and research centres of the BSEC countries within the framework of both BSEC and non-
BSEC initiatives and other approved networks. One very important event, in terms of
the BSEC initiatives, is the establishment in 2006 of the network initiated by the International
Centre for Black Sea Studies. The Armenian Centre for National and International Studies
is also a member of this network.
12 BSEC (2002), ‘Report of the sixth meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs’, Kyiv, 25 April.
22 UNFOLDING THE BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION VIEWS FROM THE REGION