Blue Black Sea International Congress - New dimensions of Security, Energy, Environment, Economy, Strategy and Education
October 14-17, 2008, Sakarya University, Turkey

The International Congress on “Blue Black Sea” took place under the distinguished patronage of the Rector of Sakarya University, Professor Mehmet Durman and had as coordinator Dr. Giray Saynur BOZKURT, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations

The main aim of the Congress was to bring together experts and researchers first of all from the region, in order to analyze the political, economic, social and cultural relations among the states of the Black Sea region and the various dimensions of ongoing relations and existing problem areas, so that to define areas of disagreements, discuss the possibilities and the modalities of promoting the peaceful resolutions of conflicts in the area and enhance the cooperation in the whole region.

The Black Sea Economic Cooperation was conceived by Turkey with a view to "transforming the Black Sea into a sea of peace, stability and prosperity on the bases of friendly relations and good neighborhood policies", as well as to improving and diversifying the economic relations between the regional states by taking the full advantages from the existing historical ties and geographical proximity.

More than 150 experts coming from the region debated throughout the four days of the international Congress subjects focussing on " factors and actors striving to actively engage in the Black Sea region" under the following headings:

1. The Place and Importance of The Black Sea for Global Peace and World Politics
2. The Black Sea Oriented International Foundations: Their aims, organs, and functions: Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), NATO, OSCE, EU, UN
3. Political and Historical Background
4. The US and Russian Regional Policies After 9/11
5. The EU Policies in the Region after the Enlargement
6. The European Security and the Black Sea States
7. The Role of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation in Southeastern Europe
8. The Black Sea Environmental Problems
9. The "Action Plan for the Development of Cooperation in Eurasia"
10. Energy Politics in the Black Sea Region
11. Historical and Ethnic Bases of Conflict Areas of the Black Sea Region
12. Frozen Conflicts in the Black Sea Region: Partnership for Peace; The Initiative of the Union of Democratic States in the Baltics- Black Sea- Caspian Sea Region
13. New Developments in the Field of Cooperation in Higher Education and University Research Areas

The final Programme of the Congress can be consulted here!

Paneuropa Foundation was represented at the Congress by its president, who spoke about the "Geostrategy of energy in the context of the Black Sea" and headed a panel on the USA and Russia Military Policy in the Region and the Foreign Policy of Turkey.

Photo Album of the International Congress.