At a time when geopolitical tensions and regional fragmentation continue to reshape international cooperation, the Black Sea region stands at a critical crossroads. With its strategic location, economic potential, energy resources, trade routes, and diverse markets, the region holds immense opportunities for deeper regional integration.
In this exclusive conversation with The Diplomatic Insight, H.E. Lazar Comanescu, Secretary General of the Permanent International Secretariat of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), reflects on the organization’s role in navigating complex regional challenges and advancing economic cooperation. Drawing on decades of diplomatic experience, he discusses BSEC’s resilience amid global crises, the importance of sustained dialogue, and the potential of connectivity, trade, transport, energy, and digital cooperation.
He also shares his perspective on strengthening partnerships with international organizations, engaging the private sector, and making BSEC more results-oriented. At the heart of his message is a conviction that dialogue and economic cooperation remain essential foundations for peace, stability, and prosperity across the Black Sea region.
TDI: You have served in diplomacy for decades and now lead BSEC at a pivotal time. What experiences have most shaped your approach to regional cooperation?
I would like first to welcome the interest shown by your magazine towards the BSEC Organization and express the hope this interview will provide its readers with a broader knowledge thereabout.
Now merging your first two questions and answering them, let me begin with a brief information on BSEC and the wider Black Sea region, a region which is also of particular international relevance.
BSEC is indeed the only full-fledged and oldest intergovernmental economic Organization in this part of the world. It is a unique platform for regional and multilateral cooperation, covering a vast area of high geo-strategic importance which is at the same time a huge market. Its membership includes countries that are top global producers and exporters of key commodities and natural resources such energy. The region also avails of significant touristic, historical, and cultural assets while being at the crossroad of major trade and transport routes and energy corridors.
The understanding by all the 13 Member States of BSEC that these assets could be best made use of through cooperation lead to the establishment in 1992 of the Organization. And yes, despite many challenges faced along its thirty four years of existence, particularly during the last more than four years, this organization proved its resilience and ability to steadily pursue its objectives.
I was appointed as the Secretary General of the Permanent International Secretariat of the BSEC Organization (BSEC PERMIS) as of July 2021, at a difficult time when the entire world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic forcing countries and many businesses to lockdown. Then, unfortunately, the region has been and continues to be facing the war in Ukraine which does not bode at all with the idea of peace and good neighborliness.
In other words, my tenure at the helm of BSEC has been a challenging one since the very beginning. However, despite all difficulties, the dialogue among the BSEC Member States could be maintained and that has been of great support. This was possible due to the fact that since its inception, BSEC has always been striving to get the people of the Black Sea as close as possible together and thus generate an atmosphere of cooperation, peace and stability.
My decades-long diplomatic experience, particularly in multilateral negotiations combined with the mutual understanding by our Member States that sustained dialogue is a necessity and the basis for stability, enabled us to continue to bring BSEC further in its journey and in its well-deserved position as a leading Organization in times of globalization.
TDI: What do you consider BSEC’s most significant achievement in promoting regional economic cooperation in recent years?
Given the circumstances which I have just described and under which we have been working, I may say that a most significant achievement of ours has been the resilience and continuity of our institutional framework of action. Today BSEC serves as a forum for multilateral cooperation within a wide range of areas providing the opportunity for its Member States to interact on various topics through its 20 thematic working groups that regularly meet to address issues of mutual interest. Our strategic framework for action is the BSEC Economic Agenda, an updated version of which we managed to adopt by unanimity two years ago.
TDI: Economic cooperation often faces political challenges. How does BSEC ensure that dialogue and practical collaboration continue among its member states?
My strong belief has been and continues to be that need has always been and is there all the more so under most complex and difficult circumstances to keep doors for dialogue open even if very narrow. Common denominators even the smallest ones can thus be found and must be found. It was in this way that we managed to come up as I earlier mentioned with a new BSEC Economic Agenda for the next decade.
TDI: Throughout your diplomatic career, what leadership principle has guided you the most, and how has it influenced your work as Secretary General?
The Team work and team spirit has always been there and before anything else.
TDI: Which areas of cooperation, such as trade, transport, energy, or digital connectivity, hold the greatest potential for the Black Sea region over the next decade?
All the areas of cooperation existing within BSEC are interconnected and are more or less equally important for the region. However, we live in an age of connectivity and global societies are now digitally connected.
Therefore connectivity, especially in its digital form is a must for us all not only in terms of simple communication but also for promoting cooperation between stakeholders from production and transport, to distribution, supply and consumption of energy and other goods, as well as for the integration of data centers among various parties.
On the other hand and as I already mentioned earlier, the BSEC region is an important transport hub connecting several continents. It is on the historical trade route – the Silk Road. Therefore, all the four areas you have referred to are of great importance and offer great potential for the Black Sea region.
TDI: How can BSEC further strengthen its partnerships with international and regional organizations to deliver greater impact?
Strengthening international and regional partnerships is essential in today’s interconnected world. BSEC is very active in this regard and has long-standing partnerships with several organizations. Some of which are the United Nations (UN) and its agencies, the European Union, the World Bank, IGC TRACECA, the Central European Initiative (CEI), the International Road Transport Union (IRU), etc. Further deepening interaction, as well as generating tangible joint projects with them will have additional positive impacts in achieving goals as set by the BSEC Economic Agenda, in line with the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs).
TDI: What role do you see for the private sector and the business community in advancing BSEC’s regional agenda?
The direct involvement of business communities not just in implementing projects but in shaping and adopting decisions there about is quintessential. Governments can negotiate frameworks, but businesses execute the trade. In line with this, BSEC avails of a Business Council whose role is mainly to bridge the gap between policymakers and the business world.
TDI: Looking ahead, what are your top priorities for making BSEC a more dynamic and results-oriented organization?
BSEC has achieved much but it possesses the potential to grow further. The Organization’s Permanent Secretariat (BSEC PERMIS) stands there to work intensively for that. With the hope that the challenges the region is unfortunately still facing will be overcome as soon as possible, the workload is quite heavy but full of promises.
BSEC’s Economic Agenda I referred to earlier on, is quite clear in this respect both in terms of priority areas and as regards the concrete direction and modalities of action. Enhancing the result and project-oriented character of the Organization is a must in this endeavor.
TDI: In a world facing increasing fragmentation, what message would you like to share about the value and purpose of BSEC as a platform for regional cooperation?
34 years ago, the visionary Heads of State and Government of the BSEC Member States gathered in Istanbul and established the BSEC Organization aiming at fostering interaction and harmony among its members, as well as to ensure peace, stability and prosperity, encouraging friendly and good-neighborly relations in the Black Sea region.
They knew that promoting and enhancing economic cooperation is a most valuable and efficient way to enhance security. Throughout the years and despite many challenges, BSEC served the Black Sea region as a platform for cooperation and dialogue. It will continue to do so, because we, the inhabitants of this region, are well aware and convinced that a strong, stable and united region is for the benefit of us all.
Established in December 2008, The Diplomatic Insight is Pakistan’s premier diplomacy and foreign affairs magazine, available in both digital and print formats.
