Representatives of the public and private sector from approximately 30 countries of the Black Sea and neighboring regions will come together for three days of brainstorming to explore ways of economic cooperation, which to this day remains below potential.
 
The Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum 2010, which starts Wednesday in Istanbul, will try to contribute to the formation of “a greater sense of community across Eurasia and its neighborhood,” according to Ross Wilson, director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, which is organizing the meeting.
 
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, Energy Minister Taner Yıldız, Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek and State Minister Egemen Bağış, also the chief negotiator to the European Union, are among the keynote speakers.
 
Speaking to a group of journalists Monday, Wilson admitted that complex political problems in the region complicate relations between countries. Yet, the political situation should not prevent the development of economic ties, he said. “People in this region are good at making money. If we can work with the business community to make money, setting aside politics, then we can form a constituency to make it easier to move toward political integration,” the former diplomat said.
 
Georgia’s prime minister and the economy ministers of Albania and Bulgaria will also be attending the meeting.
 
Energy the main priority
 
The list of participants shows the priority given to energy issues. Richard Morningstar, the U.S. special envoy for Eurasian energy, Rovnag Abdullayev, the head of Azerbaijan’s oil giant Socar, and Hussain al-Shahristani, Iraq’s oil minister, are attending the forum.
 
In addition to Iraq, Afghanistan is also invited to the forum. “Afghanistan’s future is very important for the future of Eurasia,” said Wilson, adding that Iraq’s presence is also important within the framework of connecting Iraq’s energy outlook with those of Turkey and Europe.
 
Although Wilson said Russia has a role to play in the region, Moscow is not represented by high-level officials. As to the absence of Iran, Wilson emphasized their preference to look forward on optimistic venues as to economic cooperation and business development.
 
Iran is under economic sanctions due to its controversial nuclear program.