BLACK SEA: FROM “CLOSED SEA” TO A SEA OF REGIONAL

COOPERATIONby Nilufer Oral, JD

Bilgi University

  

1982 LAW OF THE SEA CONVENTION

Article 192Article 192General obligationGeneral obligation

  

States have the obligation to protect and preserve States have the obligation to protect and preserve the marine environmentthe marine environment

  

SECTION 2. GLOBAL AND REGIONAL COOPERATION

Article 197Article 197

Cooperation on a global or regional basisCooperation on a global or regional basis States shall cooperate on a global basis and, as States shall cooperate on a global basis and, as

appropriate, on a regional basis, directly or through appropriate, on a regional basis, directly or through competent international organizations, in formulating competent international organizations, in formulating and elaborating international rules, standards and and elaborating international rules, standards and recommended practices and procedures consistent with recommended practices and procedures consistent with this Convention, for the protection and preservation of this Convention, for the protection and preservation of the marine environment, taking into account the marine environment, taking into account characteristic regional features.characteristic regional features.

Sea of Conflict Treaties 18th – 19th Century

                  1774 Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca1774 Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca

                  1792 Treaty of Perpetual Peace, Jassy1792 Treaty of Perpetual Peace, Jassy

                  1798/99 Russo-Ottoman Treaty (Secret)1798/99 Russo-Ottoman Treaty (Secret)

                  1805 Treaty of Defensive Alliance 1805 Treaty of Defensive Alliance (Russian-Ottoman)(Russian-Ottoman)

                  1806 Treaty of Alliance between Russia 1806 Treaty of Alliance between Russia and the Ottoman Empireand the Ottoman Empire

         1829 Treaty of Edirne         1833 Hünkar İskelesi Treaty         1840 London Treaty         1856 Treaty of Paris (post-Crimea)         1870- Russian denouncement of neutralisation of Black Sea         London Convention 1871 

20th Century Treaties

The World WarsThe World Wars

                  The 1923 Lausanne Treaty for the The 1923 Lausanne Treaty for the Regime of the Turkish StraitsRegime of the Turkish Straits

                  The 1936 Montreux Treaty for the The 1936 Montreux Treaty for the Regime of the Turkish StraitsRegime of the Turkish Straits

The Cold War

       Soviet “closed sea” doctrine created Soviet “closed sea” doctrine created for the Black Sea for the Black Sea

        1980’s US-USSR Black Sea confrontation1980’s US-USSR Black Sea confrontation

      1989 Joint Statement by the U.S. and the1989 Joint Statement by the U.S. and theUSSR on Uniform Interpretation of Rules USSR on Uniform Interpretation of Rules of of International Law Governing International Law Governing InnocentInnocent PassagePassage

End of the Cold War and emergence of regional

environmental cooperation

Cooperation among the six Black Sea littoral States

    Bucharest Convention and Bucharest Convention and Protocols(1992)Protocols(1992)

      Odessa Declaration (1993)Odessa Declaration (1993)

  United Nations Environmental United Nations Environmental Programme for the Black Sea Programme for the Black Sea

(1993)(1993)

   Black Sea Strategic Action Programme (1993)  Black Sea Protection Commission Sofia Declaration 2002  The Black Sea Biodiversity

and Landscape Conservation 2003.

Expanded Regional Cooperation

  Danube River Basin Countries

1994 Danube River Protection 1994 Danube River Protection Convention (11 State Parties)Convention (11 State Parties)2001 M o U between 2001 M o U between International Commission for International Commission for Danube (IC PDR)and Danube (IC PDR)and International Commission for International Commission for Black Sea (ICPBS)Black Sea (ICPBS)Joint Task Force- DABLAS  Joint Task Force- DABLAS  

  European Union

Communication from the Commission Communication from the Commission COM/2001/0615- Environmental COM/2001/0615- Environmental cooperation in the Danube-Black Sea cooperation in the Danube-Black Sea Region.Region.

EU White Paper on Transport PolicyEU White Paper on Transport Policy EU Water Framework DirectiveEU Water Framework Directive EU Green Paper on the EnvironmentEU Green Paper on the Environment

Black Sea Economic Cooperation

Article 4 of the Charter of the Organisation of the Article 4 of the Charter of the Organisation of the Black Sea Cooperation includes the “environment” as Black Sea Cooperation includes the “environment” as an “area of cooperation” amongst the member parties.an “area of cooperation” amongst the member parties.

20 February 2002 the BSEC signed with UNEP the 20 February 2002 the BSEC signed with UNEP the “Agreement on Cooperation Between the Black Sea “Agreement on Cooperation Between the Black Sea Cooperation and the United Nations Environmental Cooperation and the United Nations Environmental Programme”Programme”

Article 2 of the Agreement: BSEC and UNEP are to Article 2 of the Agreement: BSEC and UNEP are to take into account the “Environmental Action take into account the “Environmental Action Programme for Programme for Central and Eastern EuropeCentral and Eastern Europe

Convention on Fisheries and Conservation of the Black Convention on Fisheries and Conservation of the Black Sea living ResourcesSea living Resources

Caspian/Caucuses Energy

Opportunitıes and need for greater Opportunitıes and need for greater cooperation and Challengescooperation and Challenges Oil Transportation by SeaOil Transportation by Sea Pipe LinesPipe Lines Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development Polluter Pays Principle RequiredPolluter Pays Principle Required

 BLACK SEA COASTAL STATES 

 BSEC COUNTRIES

 DANUBE RIVER BASIN COUNTRIES 

 

EU COUNTRIES 

 CASPIAN ENERGY REGION

Russian Federation TurkeyUkraineBulgariaGeorgiaRomania 

Moldova,ArmeniaGreece,AlbaniaAzerbaijanRussian Federation TurkeyUkraineBulgariaGeorgiaRomania, 

AustriaCroatiaCzech RepublicGermanyHungaryMoldavaSlovak Republic

Slovenia BulgariaRomaniaUkraine 

United KingdomFranceSpainItalyBelgiumDenmark,Finland, Sweden. Ireland. PortugalEstoniaPolandLatviaGreek CyprusMaltaGreeceGermany

AustriaCroatiaCzech RepublicHungarySlovak RepublicSlovenia BulgariaRomaniaTurkey 

Iran

Kazakhstan TurkmenistanAzerbaijanRussia