Sir,

The Black Sea region deserves better than Ioan Mircea Pascu’s description of it as a “springboard” and a “buffer”. Turkey, as one of the first countries to realise the Black Sea’s importanceas a region, rather than a mere corridor, was the initiator of many of its regional cooperation mechanisms and continues to spare no effort in developing them further.

 

There can be no question but that the Black Sea region is of great strategic importance to the Euro-Atlantic area as a whole. With three NATO allies, two Membership Action Plan (MAP) aspirants and Russia enjoying privileged relations with the alliance, the Black Sea is clearly an integral part of the Euro-Atlantic security architecture. Yet the analysis of the region is often flawed by confusion between two distinct aspects of Black Sea security; on the one hand there is maritime security, and on the other there are the security challenges faced in the wider Black Sea region.

 

These two challenges are entirely different in nature and scale. The maritime area is relatively immune from imminent risks and threats. The littoral states have the means to deter and if necessary to counter such risks. The Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group (BLACKSEAFOR) initiated in 2001 by all the littoral states, as well as Operation Black Sea Harmony, which was launched by the Turkish Navy in 2004 and will soon become multinational, are crucial security providers in the maritime area. Conversely, the wider Black Sea region involves a number of frozen conflicts, energy security issues, and the broader challenge of democratisation.

 

The two dimensions of the Black Sea do not in any case involve the same actors. While the wider Black Sea issues may be of interest to over 10 countries surrounding the Black Sea without necessarily having a coastline, the maritime area is dealt with by the six littorals. Since the Black Sea is a small sea, with a moderate volume of navigation, the littorals have the capability to control the entire maritime area.

 

If the clear distinction between these two dimensions is not taken into account, there is a risk of confusion both in terms of defining and analysing the challenges and needs of the Black Sea, as well as developing the best means to cope with them.

 

The initiatives launched by Turkey for the further enhancement of security and stability in the Black Sea region and promoting good neighbourly relations are based on this understanding. The Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) body was the first all-inclusive regional organisation reflecting a comprehensive geographical vision of the Black Sea. Increasing international attention over the region is a positive development and it is the regional states’ common responsibility to take advantage of it.

 

Although we cannot speak of a “sense of common identity” in the Black Sea, the countries of the region have been working on common goals and interests, and no “impulse coming from outside” for creating a regional identity could succeed, or serve its stability and security interests.