On 1 May 1 2013, the Middle East Research Project (MERP) of ELIAMEP participated in the 3d International Black Sea Civil Society Forum in Ankara. Eleven countries participated (Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine). The Ankara meeting aimed to foster relations further between the Black Sea NGOs. On the sidelines of the Forum, Dr Evangelos Venetis, Head of the ELIAMEP MERP, met with Bulent Arinc, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, Gemil Cicek, Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Dr Ismail Safi, AKP Member of Parliament and other officials.