Excellencies, distinguished
delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I wish to welcome you
all to the 8th session of the SPECA Project
Working Group on Transport and Border Crossing
Facilitation.
I should like to express
my sincere gratitude to the Government of
the Republic of Azerbaijan for hosting this
meeting in Baku and to his Excellency Mr.
Vilayat Guliyev, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
for his kind invitation. For reasons beyond
my control I am not able to be present here
today.
I should also like to congratulate
Azerbaijan for becoming a new member of
SPECA. I believe this expansion will strengthen
the SPECA Programme and enhance its regional
dimension and effectiveness.
I would also like to express
my deep gratitude to the Government of the
Republic of Kazakhstan for its work and
commitment with the SPECA Programme and
in particular to Mr. Djakupov, First Vice-Minister
of Transport, for the excellent work he
is doing in his capacity as Chairman of
the SPECA Working Group on Transport and
Border Crossing Facilitation.
The UNECE has, for more
than half a century, contributed to the
development and improvement of the transport
sector. Its contribution includes Agreements
and Conventions on the development of networks,
norms and standards on road traffic safety,
vehicle regulations, simplification of customs
procedures and norms on the transport of
dangerous goods, as well as special Projects
and programmes such as TEM/TER, SPECA and
others. Much of this work contributes to
the implementation of the Millennium Declaration
and Millennium Development Goals.
By providing an indispensable
basis for the development of economic activities,
for the production and distribution of goods,
as well as for trade, transport contributes
to development and poverty eradication.
UNECE legal instruments on transport, by
combating transnational crime, including
trafficking and smuggling, contribute to
peace and security. Through the improvement
of safety and environmental performance
of transport, it contributes to protecting
our environment. UNECE, recognizing the
special development needs and problems of
landlocked countries and other countries
with economies in transition, called for
in the Millennium Declaration, attaches
the greatest interest to this group of countries
and try to help, inter alia, with actions
and initiatives for the improvement of their
transport systems and encouragement of intercountry
cooperation.
The SPECA Project represents
an important element for the promotion of
these goals. UNECE, in close cooperation
with ESCAP and other international organizations
and institutions, is constantly supporting
the activities of the project.
The Pan-European Transport
Corridors and the Euro-Asian transport links
are considered to be of strategic importance
for the economic growth and prosperity of
UNECE member countries and for their integration
into the European and global economy. SPECA
countries are an integral part of the Euro-Asian
transport links, representing natural West-East
and North-South crossroads. The Central
Asian and the Caucasus countries will acquire
an ever-increasing importance in the UNECE
work programme in the coming years.
As you know, on the proposal
of the five United Nations regional commissions,
the General Assembly approved the United
Nations Development Account Project on Capacity
Building for the Development of Interregional
Transport Linkages. In implementing this
project, UNECE and ESCAP will focus mainly
on Euro-Asian Transport Links, including
through SPECA countries. The Executive Secretary
of ESCAP and myself have signed a joint
letter to a number of UNECE and ESCAP member
countries, inviting them to participate
in the Project and to nominate a Focal Point.
I look forward to the active participation
of all the countries represented in this
meeting which are among the beneficiaries
of this project.
At its meeting in February
2003, the UNECE Inland Transport Committee
called for the further elaboration of the
UNECE/ESCAP Strategic Vision through the
establishment of a task force under UNECE/ESCAP
leadership.
The Inland Transport Committee
also approved a proposal to raise funds
with a view to facilitating participation
of Central Asian and Caucasus countries
in meetings of the Committee and selected
Subsidiary Bodies.
The work of the SPECA Project
Working Group on Border Crossing Facilitation
is recognized as very important for the
achievement of an efficient and well-balanced,
safe and sustainable transport system in
the Central Asia region.
I would like to assure
you that UNECE, in close cooperation with
our colleagues of ESCAP, will spare no efforts
to provide you with the assistance needed
to reach your objectives.
I wish you every success
in your work.
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