Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Bolaris represented Greece in the 39th Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) organised on 14 December 2018 by Azerbaijan, a country which exercised its presidency during the second half of 2018. Recent developments were discussed on issues related to the work of the BSEC, such as transports, information technology, energy, the environment, small to medium-sized businesses, tackling organised crime, agriculture, and cultural cooperation. The participating Ministers developed their positions and exchanged views regarding the steps that should be taken to render the BSEC more functional, aiming to establish interregional cooperation further. Greece is one of the 11 founding members of the BSEC -which boasts 12 members since 2004, following the inclusion of Serbia. It has developed significant initiatives in the BSEC and constitutes a substantive financier of its bodies, two of which are hosted in Greece: The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank in Thessaloniki, and the International Centre for Black Sea Studies in Athens. Ambassador emeritus Michael Christides is acting as the Organisation's Secretary General. During his trip to Baku, Mr Bolaris met, on 13 December 2018, with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Mammad Guliyev, with whom he discussed issues of bilateral relations. The excellent relations between the two countries were reviewed, which have the potential to develop much further, inter alia with regard to issues of economic cooperation, as well as social, educational, cultural, and agricultural issues, for which the Azerbaijani side expressed specific interest. In addition, the number of Azerbaijanis who visit Greece can increase considerably with a direct airline connection between Baku and Athens. In Baku, two University departments are already in operation for the study of Greek language and culture, where more than 70 students are presently studying. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs also visited Baku’s Greek Community, the members of which amount to 550, who received him with overt emotion.
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