Articles

Eugene KOGAN, The Center for International and European Studies (CIES), Istanbul. The two unresolved conflicts in the South Caucasus hang over Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia like the Sword of Damocles. As seen from every view point, Russia’s influence, levers and policy toward conflicts resolution remain the key issues. As long as Moscow maintains a status quo policy and keeps the outside actors at arm’s length from the region, the unresolved conflicts will continue to fester.

Andrei Klimenko, Anatoliy Odaynik, Vladimir Trofimov, BSNews. Two Turkish naval vessels - the military transport ro-ro ferry TCG ISKENDERUN (A1600), manufactured in Turkey, and the former German Donau (A 69), currently the training and staff vessel, TCG SOKULLU MEHMET PASA (A577) – came to Odessa on 2013-05-20...

Andrei Klimenko, BSNews. On 2013-05-19 the cruise yacht VARIETY VOYAGER arrived from Nesebar to Istanbul. Thus the 2013 Black sea cruise season of this vessel is over. finishing it's Black sea cruise season-2013. At present this Greek yacht is the absolute champion of the 2013 season in the Black Sea, both in the number of ports, called in the course of a single cruise - 10, and the total number of the Black Sea port calls - 20. Lets sum up and devote to it a picture story...

Andrei KLIMENKO, BlackSeaNews We have decided to offer our readers the May 2013 cruise program in 3 versions: chronology, cruise ship and ports of call wise. In this case, a lot of words are of no need – everything is quite clear at once:). As always, we will be glad if our well-informed readers submit any additional information and updates to this very schedule in their comments

Andrei KLIMENKO, Alexey SOLOVIEV, Tatiana GUCHAKOVA, BSNews. On March 8, 2013, being on visit to Istanbul on our "Black Sea" issues regarding our interaction with BSEC, we managed to interview Mr. Mehmet Baspinar, Vice President on “our region” in the head office of Turkish Airlines. We realized, that to make it into the head office of the largest airlines of the world is predeterminedly anything but simple. But ... Well, all told, just read.

Mitat CELIKPALA, Associate Professor at Kadir Has University, Istanbul. Energy competition in the Black Sea region, which was not in the spotlight in the post-2008 Russia- Georgia war period and was under the influence of the international financial crisis, has been showing signs of revival with the prospects of economic recovery and the signing of new agreements. For the last few years, Turkey has been trying to implement a comprehensive energy and foreign policy by considering alternative pipelines. This has not been an easy task for a transit country.

Alexey SOLOVIEV, BSNews. Egypt has once again reiterated the truth of the axiom: tourism is one of the most profitable, interesting, but one of the most vulnerable businesses. It does not matter by what sea you live - Black, Red or White one -it is clear that reports of the world press about instability lead to the almost immediate decline of tourist flow, which starts to search for the new tourist destinations or return to the old, well-known ones...

Natalya BELITSER, Kyiv, Ukraine. The ‘frozen’ situation of this conflict has essentially changed over the last couple of years. Therefore, in order to assess the new opportunities, but also risks and challenges linked to these changes, this paper addresses the background and the environment in which the conflict developed, and previous attempts of its resolution...

Elena GNEDINA, Nicu POPESCU, Center for International and European Studies (CIES) at Kadir Has University, Istanbul, specially for BSNews. In this period, the EU undoubtedly developed and intensified its relations with most of its eastern neighbors, but has hardly managed to 'change' them or significantly alter the course of their development...

On 25 June 1992,the Heads of State and Government of eleven countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine signed in Istanbul the Summit Declaration and the Bosphorus Statement giving birth to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.

It came into existence as a unique and promising model of multilateral political and economic initiative aimed at fostering interaction among the Member States, as well as to ensure peace, stability and good-neighbourly relations in the Black Sea region.

Andrei Klimenko, Tatiana GUCHAKOVA, BSNews. On December 15, 2012 Istanbul hosted the 27^th summit of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation, during which Ukraine formally accepted from Turkey the BSEC chairmanship.The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn HRYSHCHENKO gave an exclusive interview to BSNews before the summit’s opening ...

Andrei Klimenko, Tatiana GUCHAKOVA, BlackSeaNews. The competitive situation in the Black Sea region makes the Crimea to answer the main question: in what segments of the travel industry it must "rush to catch up the run-away train", and where to look for new and ingenious ways of tourism development with due account of global trends ...

Helen Liukova, BlackSeaNews. Istanbul is saturated with construction again - the next things of its agenda are: the third airport, the new HYATT hotel and reconstruction of the central Taksim Square. Besides, the city has welcomed major international car show and NASA exhibition. Moreover, Istanbul has become the world capital of coffee, which for sure will increase the number of tourists-coffee drinking admires. You are welcome to read more in this BlackSeaNews review.

Andrei KLIMENKO, BSNews, Illya ZHYRNOV (photo). On November 11, 2012, the 5th anniversary of the catastrophic storm of 2007, Yalta had bright sunshine, gusty wind and considerable storm. Entering its harbor cruise liner PACIFIC PRINCESS crushed the Yalta port sea buoy, while in the roads 7-8 bulk carriers were waiting the rough weather out. See our latest photo report...

Andrei Klimenko, BlackSeaNews. At least 2 cruise liners will visit the Black Sea ports in November 2012. Excluding Istanbul, they will call at least 4 ports: Yalta, Odessa, Constanta, Nessebar. The cruise season in the Black Sea will continue till November 25, of course, if weather does not interfere. If we aren't mistaken, that’s unprecedentedly long season...