Round table "Security and stability in the Black Sea region -  challenges and opportunities" was held in Yerevan 

ArmInfo. The experts and diplomats in Yerevan discussed the issues of security and stability in the Black Sea region at the round table "Security and Stability in the Black Sea Region: Challenges and Opportunities", organized by the Embassy of  Bulgaria in Armenia in cooperation with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

As the press service of the Bulgarian embassy told ArmInfo, the round  table was devoted to the 10th anniversary of Bulgaria's accession to  the EU and on the occasion of the forthcoming Bulgarian presidency of  the European Union in the first half of 2018.

The aim of the event was to create a platform for a balanced  discussion of complex issues of security and stability of the Black  Sea region from different points of view, and taking into account the  interests and interdependent nature of relations between the states  of the region.

Various groups of experts representing academia and NGOs from  Bulgaria, Armenia, Georgia, Russia and Ukraine, as well as regional  organizations, exchanged views on the complex security situation in  the Black Sea region and challenges in the region as a whole. The  event allowed the exchange of views and exploring perspectives on the  main problems facing the Black Sea region, which is one of the most  dynamic and strategically important zones in Europe. The participants  of the event mutually stated that in difficult times to ensure  security, it is important to make efforts aimed at maintaining open  communication channels, de- escalation and risk management.

The event was aimed not only at outlining the main issues arising  from various strategic, military and economic interests and  priorities in the region, but also in seeking constructive approaches  to revitalizing and intensifying regional cooperation by all possible  means, including economic opportunities, domestic reforms in regional  states and regional economic cooperation. The participants of the  meeting noted that Armenia will chair BSEC in 2018, thus having the  opportunity to contribute to the activation of regional constructive  projects.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan, Bulgaria's  Ambassador to Armenia Maria Pavlova, German Ambassador Matthias  Kiesler, attended the event. The ambassadors congratulated the  Armenian government and the Armenian people on the historic signing  of the framework agreement with the European Union