The International Fund for Cooperation and Partnership of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea (BSCSIF), established in 2009 with the aim of contribution to the dialogue, understanding and peace in the regions of the Black and Caspian Seas and uniting currently representatives of intelligentsia, famous academicians and public figures from 33 countries, including from Russia and Turkey, expresses its concern with regard to the possible implications of deterioration of relations between Russia and Turkey due to the incident with Russian bomber aircraft SU-24.
BSCSIF, expressing its condolences to the families of those who died, also underlines that in the present situation it is necessary to show patience, calm, restraint and keep dialogue in order to remove tensions between Russia and Turkey and maintain friendly and good relations, established throughout the history between Russian and Turkish peoples.
Deterioration of relations between Russia and Turkey neither meets the interests of peaceful development and prosperity of their peoples no contributes to the security in these strategically key regions of the Black and Caspian Seas.
In this regard, BSCSIF welcomes the statements by Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, and Mr. Joseph Muscat, the Prime-Minister of Malta, about the readiness of their countries to make efforts for easing tensions and stabilization of relations between Russia and Turkey.
BSCSIF also turns attention to an important role that public diplomacy may play in restoration of dialogue and cooperation between Russia and Turkey and hopes that civil society of Russia and Turkey would contribute to this process.
December 15, 2015