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<P ALIGN="center"><span class="style79"><span class="style74"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span class="style69 style31"><span class="MsoNormal style78"><span class="style18 style117"><span class="style36 style26"><span style=""><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span class="style18 style117"><span style=""><span style=""><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style="font-family: color: #336699"Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-style: italic;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style=""><span style=""><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style=""><span style=""><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style="font-family: color: #336699"times new roman", times, serif; font-style: italic;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style=""><span style=""><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style=""><span style=""><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style="font-family: color: #336699"Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-style: italic;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style=""><span style=""><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style=""><span style=""><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style="font-family: color: #336699"times new roman", times, serif; font-style: italic;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style=""><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><img src="../../images/csdr_logo.jpg" name="image" width="284" height="86"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></font></span></span><FONT COLOR="#1f1a17" SIZE="3" FACE="Garamond">
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<P ALIGN="center" class="style69 style87"><span class="style94">Security in the Black Sea Region</span><FONT SIZE="5">
</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER" class="style95">His Excellency Ioan Mircea Pascu<br>
Minister of Defense of Romania</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER" class="style69">
<span class="style91">OPENING REMARKS</span></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT" class="style86">
<span class="style89"><FONT COLOR="#1f1a17">Unintentionally, I believe, our program is illustrating the growing gap
between evolutionary technology and static politics. During earlier sessions
on technology, we saw how rapidly that area is developing. Then, with the
help of Nick Burns, and now, with this session, we are seeing that whatever
we try to do about technology and however fascinated we might be with it
we are back to square one, which is politics. Unfortunately, however, politics
has not developed very much since it was first employed. These realities
show us that perhaps we should apply inventiveness and ingenuity to transforming
politics as well as to technology. I am not saying that we should back
off on technological development but perhaps that we should start thinking
about how technology and its development might help move the political
arena forward.
</FONT></span></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER" class="style89"><FONT COLOR="#1f1a17">
<B class="style69">THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BLACK SEA AREA</B><FONT COLOR="#000000"></FONT></FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT" class="style89"><FONT COLOR="#1f1a17"> I would like to begin by thanking my colleagues Vecdi Gonul, Nikolai Svinarov,
Gela Bezhuashvili, General Skvorzov, and Ambassador Khandogiy for answering
the invitation to organize this panel and to present to you our national
views on the Black Sea, an area that is becoming increasingly important
and relevant. Geographically, it is a landlocked sea dominated by important
land powers of the area. During the Crimean War, it was the main area of
operation along with theaters in the Baltic and East Asia; opponents were
Turkey and Russia and the involvement of France and Britain gave it a European
dimension.<FONT COLOR="#000000"><B> </B></FONT>
</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT" class="style89"><FONT COLOR="#1f1a17">
When we look at a map of this area, we see that one of the accesses to
Russia is through the Black Sea. Turkey also has important interests because
of its location there. The area actually opens toward three important strategic
areas: the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the Caspian Sea, which opens toward
Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Gulf. We also have the Danube, which
is becoming the waterway of a united Europe. The sea is also a passageway
for Caspian oil and gas for consumers in the West and a source of value
in addressing traditional and nontraditional threats. Consequently, its
current relevance and its importance for the foreseeable future are significant.
<FONT COLOR="#000000"> </FONT>
</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT" class="style89"><FONT COLOR="#1f1a17"> In addition, the area is significant to three major actors in international
politics: NATO, the EU, and Russia, because demarcation lines are not yet
fully crystallized. To my mind we need to discuss how to approach and manage
the area and its problems in order to minimize its negative potential and
to maximize common access to its promising benefits. We must continue to
coexist and further develop cooperative attitudes in order to guard the
sea lanes, deal with nontraditional threats, and manage the environment
in the interests of all the countries around the sea.
</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT" class="style89"><FONT COLOR="#1f1a17"> We also need to share intelligence, either through organizations or individuals,
regarding terrorism, arms smuggling, drug smuggling, human trafficking,
and organized crime. We must work together to do everything we can to stop
some of the major problems we have been hearing about.
</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT" class="style89"><FONT COLOR="#1f1a17"> Currently we have effective bilateral exchanges with other countries. We
have a good relationship with Turkey, and BLACKSEAFOR, which started as
a cooperative effort in the area, now deals with an increasingly larger
spectrum of activities in the area. It may develop into an avenue for intercepting
threats and addressing smuggling and other issues, but that is a decision
that must be made by all the coastal countries. However, I believe we are
moving in that direction, and the situation urges us to exchange relevant
information.
</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER" class="style89">
<span class="style97">CONCLUDING REMARKS</span></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT" class="style89"><FONT COLOR="#1f1a17"> The Black Sea is an area in what we are calling a complex emerging security
region. I predict that over the next several years, European development
will be centered around it. But will we engage in crystallizing the vision
or will we let things develop on their own, and limit ourselves to managing
whatever configuration emerges? I do not expect to get all the answers
to all the problems today, but we can make a good start. </FONT><FONT COLOR="#1f1a17"></FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><span class="style86"><span class="style83 style86 style90"><span class="style69"><a href="../../index.html">csdr home page</a>| <a href="#top">top of page </a></span><span class="style74"><span class="style69"><span class="style9">|</span> </span><span class="style43">©2003, 2004 center for strategic decision research</span> </span></span></span></P>
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