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Traceca Inter-Governmental Joint Committee for Implementation of a Basic Agreement

Completion Report December 31, 2001

Traceca Intergovernmental Joint Committee Project Completion Report : December 31, 2001

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REPORT COVER PAGE

Project Title

TRACECA – Inter-Governmental Joint Committee For Implementation of a Basic Agreement TNREG 9803_Ext

Project Number 00-0251.00

Countries Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, Moldova, Romania, Tadjikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Local operator EC-Consultant Name National Secretaries AXIS & ASSOCIES Address 34-38 rue Blomet

75015 Paris France

Tel.number (+33-1) 53 86 88 00 Fax number ( +33-1) 53 86 90 91 e-mail number [email protected] Contact persons Alain LENAUD

Jean Louis ROMANINI Signatures

Date of Report: December 31, 2001 Reporting Period January 25, 2001 – December 31, 2001 Author of Report: Jean Louis ROMANINI EC Co-ordinating unit

(Name)

(Signature)

(Date)

EC Delegation

(Name)

(Signature)

(Date)

Tacis Bureau (Task Manager)

Daniel STROOBANTS (Name)

(Signature)

(Date)


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LOCAL COUNTERPARTS

IGC - TRACECA

Name : Merab ADEISHVILI Chairman of IGC - TRACECA Minister of Transport of Georgia

Address :

Ministry of Transport Kazbegi av, TBILISI

Tel.number Fax number e.mail : Contact person Signature

____________________________________________

PERMANENT SECRETARIAT OF THE IGC-TRACECA

Name : Zviad KVATCHANTIRADZE Secretary General of “IGC TRACECA”

Address :

37000 8/2, Aliyarbekov str. BAKU

Tel.number (99412) 982718 Fax number (99412) 982718 e.mail : [email protected] Contact person Signature

____________________________________________

PERMANENT SECRETARIAT OF THE IGC-TRACECA

Name : Ikrom NAZAROV Deputy Secretary General of “IGC TRACECA”

Address :

370000, 8/2, Aliyarbekov str. BAKU

Tel.number (99412) 936485 Fax number (99412) 936485 e.mail : [email protected]


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Armenia

Name : Gagik GRIGORYAN – National Secretary Address :

Ministry of Transport and Communication 375010 28, Nalbadyan str. P.O.Box 69 YEREVAN

Tel.number (3741) 523862 – (3741) 561859 Fax number (3749) 606968 – (3741) 151446 e.mail : [email protected] Contact person Signature

____________________________________________

Azerbaijan

Name : Rafik ZEYNALOV – National Secretary Address :

370000, 8/2, Aliyarbekov str. BAKU

Tel.number (99412) 982718 Fax number (99412) 982718 e.mail : [email protected] Contact person Signature

____________________________________________

Bulgaria

Name : Radoslav ATANASOV – National Secretary Address :

Ministry of Transport and Communication 9, Levski str 1000 SOFIA

Tel.number (3592) 9409424- (3592) 9409423 Fax number (3592) 9874942 e.mail : [email protected] Contact person Signature

____________________________________________


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Georgia

Name : George GOGIASHVILI – National Secretary Address :

Ministry of Transport and Communication 12, Rustaveli av., TBILISI

Tel.number (99532) 250563 Fax number (99532) 941765 e.mail [email protected] Contact person Signature

____________________________________________

Kazakhstan

Name : Yerzhan SULEIMENOV – National Secretary Address :

Ministry of Transport and Communication 473000, 49 Abay Ave, apt. 328. ASTANA

Tel.number 7(3172) 328639 Fax number 7(3172) 328639 e.mail [email protected]; [email protected] Contact person Signature

____________________________________________

Kyrgyzstan

Name : Suleyman ZAKIROV – National Secretary Address :

Ministry of Transport and Communication BISHKEK 42, Isanov str.

Tel.number Home :(966312) 650741 – work : (966312) 221263 Fax number (966312) 661968 e-mail Contact person Signature

____________________________________________


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Moldova

Name : Veacheslav UNTILA – National Secretary Address :

Ministry of Transport and Com CHISINAU 2018, 34, Stephan Sel Mare str

Tel.number (3732)-213981 ; (3739) 142130 (mob.) Fax number (3732)-213981 e.mail : [email protected] ; [email protected] Contact person Signature

____________________________________________

Romania

Name : Ana Maria POPESCU – National Secretary Address :

Ro- 71201, BUCHAREST ROMANIA 1, Piata Victorie

Tel.number (401) 212 61 28 Fax number (401) 212 61 28 e-mail : [email protected] Contact person Signature

____________________________________________

Tajikistan

Name : Solih MUMINOV- National Secretary Address :

Ministry of Transport and Road Economy 80 Rudaki Ave, DUSHANBE

Tel.number (992372) 211967 – (992372) 377310 Fax number (992372) 211967 e.mail [email protected] – mtdh@tajiknet Contact person Signature

____________________________________________


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Turkey

Name : Selcuk COSKUN- National Secretary Address :

Mustesal Yardimcisi, Ulastirma Bakanligi, ANKARA

Tel.number (90312) 2124496 Fax number (90312) 2129797 e.mail c/o "Mujde Ozturkmen" <[email protected]> Contact person Signature

____________________________________________

Ukraine

Name : Yuriy TERTYSHNIK – National Secretary Address :

Ministry of Transport 7/9, Schors str. KIEV

Tel.number (38044) 2681374 ; (38044) 2024112 (mob.) Fax number (38044) 2692321 e.mail [email protected] Contact person Signature

____________________________________________

Uzbekistan

Name : Abdulla KHASHIMOV - National Secretary Address :

House of Government, Mustakillik Ave. TASHKENT

Tel. number (99871) 1398094 Fax number (99871) 1398121 e-mail [email protected]

Contact person Signature

____________________________________________


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Project Synopsis ................................................................................................................ 10

2 Summary of project progress since the start of the project............................................. 12

2.1 The Basic Agreement and the IGC-TRACECA................................................................. 12

2.2 The Permanent Secretariat of the IGC-TRACECA.......................................................... 12

2.3 Co-ordination of projects ..................................................................................................... 12

2.4 Meetings and Working Groups ........................................................................................... 12

2.5 Web sites ................................................................................................................................ 13

2.6 General project Management .............................................................................................. 13

3 Project Progress in final project period ........................................................................... 16

3.1 Application of the addendum............................................................................................... 16

3.2 Assistance to the Permanent Secretariat ............................................................................ 16

3.3 Visits to state participants / Co-ordination of projects : ................................................... 16 3.3.1 Visits to National Commissions .................................................................................................... 16 3.3.2 Visit to Turkmenistan :.................................................................................................................. 16 3.3.3 Traceca projects / Traceca map ..................................................................................................... 16

3.4 Annual Meeting and Working Groups ............................................................................... 17

3.5 Main decisons made.............................................................................................................. 17

4 Overall Report on the total project ................................................................................... 26

4.1 General management of the project.................................................................................... 26 4.1.1 Addendum : ................................................................................................................................... 26 4.1.2 Financial management and Special Fund : .................................................................................... 26

4.2 Assistance to the Co-ordination of the TRACECA Programme. ..................................... 26 4.2.1 Present projects : ........................................................................................................................... 26

4.2.1.1 Technical Assistance : ............................................................................................................... 26 4.2.1.2 Investment Projects : ................................................................................................................. 27

4.2.2 New Traceca projects .................................................................................................................... 27

4.3 Support of the Permanent Secretariat ................................................................................ 28 4.3.1 Auditing of the staff ...................................................................................................................... 28 4.3.2 Training of the staff....................................................................................................................... 29 4.3.3 Financing of the Permanent Secretariat......................................................................................... 29 4.3.4 Activities of the Permanent Secretariat ......................................................................................... 29

4.4 Communication and web sites ............................................................................................. 29 4.4.1 Objectives of the Communication Expert ..................................................................................... 29 4.4.2 Missions of the Communication Expert : ...................................................................................... 30

4.5 National Commissions and National Secretaries ............................................................... 31 4.5.1 Evaluation of National Secretaries ................................................................................................ 31 4.5.2 Visits to National Commissions .................................................................................................... 32


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5 Lessons learnt and recommendations /............................................................................ 39

5.1 Project planning.................................................................................................................... 39

5.2 How intended targets were reached .................................................................................... 39

5.3 Major external factors.......................................................................................................... 39

5.4 General Recommendations .................................................................................................. 40 5.4.1 Sustainability and Finances : ........................................................................................................ 40 5.4.2 Road transport : ............................................................................................................................. 40


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1 Project Synopsis

(adjusted in agreement with the monitoring team) Project Title:

TRACECA - Intergovernmental Joint Committee for Implementation of a Basic Agreement

Project Number:

00-0251.00 / TNREG 9803_Ext

Countries:

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia , Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyr-gyzstan, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Overall objective(s):

The competitiveness of the Traceca corridor increased by improve-ment the co-operation among Traceca states.

Specific objective(s):

Permanent Secretariat is fully operational in 2001; Secretary General and the National Secretaries achieved the proper functioning of National Commissions in each partner state in order to speed up and improve implementation of the MLA. Co-ordination of the TRACECA projects between beneficiaries, Per-manent Secretariat, IFIs and local partners ensured for long term con-tinuity and sustainability.

Planned outputs: The MLA is ratified by the 2 remaining partner states, Kazakhstan and

Turkey Rules of Procedures and Statutes are adjusted Working Procedures and Reporting Procedures are finalised Elected positions of the IGC-TRACECA are filled after a vote during the Annual Meeting The office of the Permanent Secretariat Baku is fully operational and properly staffed; its staff is trained National Commissions operate in co-operation with the Permanent Secretariat Working Groups decided by the IGC are in operation and meet on a regular basis The Annual Meeting is organised Both the TRACECA and the IGC-TRACECA web sites are hosted, maintained and up-dated The webmaster is trained The TRACECA traffic forecast data base is effectively transferred to the Secretariat; its results appear on the website A TRACECA technical library is set up and completed in Baku The Baku office building is renovated and the Permanent Secretariat properly equipped A “Quasi” Business Plan for the next three years is designed The selection process of Traceca projects is adapted


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Documents for new Traceca projects are produced including i) project fiches for new project propositions, ii) terms of reference, iii) reviews of projects, dissemination materials, discussion documents, iv) agendas and support documents for working group conferences, v) bi-annual reports Financing of investment proposals (as identified by TRACECA pro-jects) by international financial institutions and commercial partners is stimulated

Project activities:

General Management of the project Management of the Special Fund Reporting to the Task Manager Review and comments on all reports issued by contractors Set up of an agenda of project events and milestones Renovation of the Baku office of the Permanent Secretariat Procurement of equipment to the Permanent Secretariat Preparation and Management of the Annual Meeting (Tashkent) Preparation and Management of Working Groups decided by the IGC-TRACECA Meetings with National Secretaries, attendance of meetings of the Na-tional Commissions and visits to the local counterparts of National Commissions Meetings with contractors and their local counterparts of all Traceca projects Hosting, maintenance and up-dating of the Traceca website and the IGC-Traceca website Training of the webmaster Collection of information and documents for the Traceca technical li-brary Day to day assistance of the Permanent Secretariat Training of the staff of the Permanent Secretariat

Target group(s):

Cabinets of Ministers, Ministries of Transport, Ministries of Foreign Relations, Trade and Transport Associations, International Organisa-tions

Project start date: January 25, 2001

Project duration: 12 months


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2 Summary of project progress since the start of the project

This report was written on December 31 and it was up-dated in January 2002 after visits to several beneficiaries

2.1 The Basic Agreement and the IGC-TRACECA

The B.A. was ratified by the 2 remaining state participants, Kazakhstan and Turkey; all 12 state par-ticipants have now ratified the B.A. . Statements of ratification appear under Chapter 6 “Appendix”.

Procedures for inviting third parties to IGC-TRACECA Meetings were adopted during the Extraordinary Meeting of December 11-12 in Tbilisi.

National Commissions have been set up and are working in every state; new National Secretaries were appointed in Georgia, Romania, Turkey and Uzbekistan; transfer of responsibilities to newly ap-pointed National Secretaries was organised without problems worth mentionning.

2.2 The Permanent Secretariat of the IGC-TRACECA

The renovation of the office building of the P.S. was completed. Rooms were made available to Con-sultants involved in Traceca projects so that a closer co-operation between the PS and Experts can be organised.

An addendum to the contract allowed the purchase and delivery of more equipment such as :

- office equipment in order to accomodate the 4 Technical Experts in Baku

- simultaneous translation equipment for the Baku meeting room (delivery in progress)

- a search engine for the web sites.

Working procedures of the Permanent Secretariat were adapted to the work load : the Supervisor of the western Consultant is more involved in day to day operations, some staff were replaced and per-manent training was provided (English, French and standard computer programmes).

In July, 4 Technical Experts were hired in order to better study and prepare recommendations and proposals to be submitted to the Workign Groups and the Meetings.

2.3 Co-ordination of projects A - Co-ordination of current Traceca projects : Current Traceca projects were co-ordinated under the authority of the supervisor from Baku and through spot visits.

B - Procedure for the selection of new Traceca projects :

Traceca National Commissions are now involved in the pre-selection process of future Traceca pro-jects; the complete procedure was designed and explained to National Secretaries who are expected to participate in the identification and definition of future projects. The list of projects adopted in Tbilisi was established according to this new procedure.

2.4 Meetings and Working Groups

Five Working Groups were organised : in Varna (March), Baku (June), Baku (July), Baku (October) and Tbilisi (December). They were attended by almost all National Secretaries who provided much information and carried important proposals.


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For each major subject Key Note Speakers were appointed among National Secretaries, so that new proposals could be reviewed and presented by the NS who are particulalry motivated and competent in the matter involved.

At the end of all 5 WG, recommendations were issued which served as a basis for decisions to be made during IGC-TRACECA Meetings, such as :

- “Traceca Coefficients” for the establishment of competitive railway tariffs

- “Traceca hot lines” for the support of transport operators confronted to illegal actions

- “Traceca visa”, a concept for the establishment of simplified transit procedures both for goods and persons

- “Traceca map”, an up dated map of traceca corridors to be proosoed for adoption by the E.U.

- “Traceca Action Plan”, which consists of the list of pre-selected future Traceca projects to be submitted to the IGC-TRACECA Meeting for approval and then to the EU for final selection and funding

(see all decisons and recommednatios of WG in Chapter 6 “Appendix”)

However, major recommendations were not available until the middle of the year 2001, a fact which convinced the Chairman and the Co-Chairman of the IGC-TRACECA to postpone the Annual Meeting from the May/June period to the third quarter of 2001.

Unfortunately the September 11 events prevented the Annual Meeting to be convened in Tashkent on September 21 as planned.

Uzbekistan offered to organise the Annual Meeting at a later date, respecting the full agenda planned for the original meeting; this proposal was accepted by all state participants which set the new Meeting for the March/April period of 2002.

However, urgent decisions had to be made regarding the pre-selection of future Traceca projects and regarding specific measures designed to ease the transit of humanitarian cargo shipped to Afghani-stan through the Traceca corridor. Waiting for the Annual Meeting due in 2002 was impossible; thus the Chairrman offered to organise an “Extraordianry Meeting” in Tbilissi on December 11-12.

In Tbilisi, were adopted, on consensus :

- the list of future Traceca projects to be submitted to the European Commission for final selec-tion and funding

- the principle of adopting a set of measures specifically designed to make the Traceca corridor more efficient and less costly for the transit of humanitairan cargo to Afghanistan; a list of such measures was then designed by the PS and submitted to all state participants

- the new Traceca map

2.5 Web sites

Both the TRACECA and the IGC-TRACECA web sites are hosted, maintained and up-dated. The newly hired webmaster is trained and masters technical problems.

The Traceca Traffic Data Base is linked to the web sites.

All Traceca reports were processed so that key words are identified and research is simplified by the use of the search engine installed in late December.

2.6 General project Management

Financial Management / Special Fund :

The Contractor organised regular money transfers for financing Traceca National Commissions (Fees for National Secretaries and Expenses for the offices of National Commissions) taking into account the specificity and instructions of each state participant.


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Addendum :

During the course of this project it was found necessary to reinforce the capacity fo the staff of the Permanent Secretariat; the Consultant proposed an addendum to the European Commission, which was approved in July.

According to this addendum, more manpower is devoted to the PS; a team of “technical experts” was thus selected after a broad consultation of all state participants; 4 technical experts were then hired in July.

The revised “Overall Plan of Operations” taking the addendum into account appears hereunder.

Traceca Intergovernmental Joint Committee Progress Report 1 : July 31, 2001

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1.4 - REVISED OVERALL PLAN OF OPERATIONS (after addendum)

Project title : TRACECA Intergovernmental Joint Commission Project number : TNREG9803_Ext

Contract n° :00-0251.00 Countries : Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Planning period : from start to january 2002 (end) Prepared on : December 31, 2001 EC Consultant : AXIS& Associés, 24-26, rue du Cotentin - 75015 - PARIS, France Project objectives : To Increase the competitiveness of the Traceca corridor by improving the co-operation between Traceca partner states. To Define, in terms of contents and timing, a Technical Assistance Programme to be financed by the European Union (EU) N°

MAIN ACTIVITIES

INPUTS

Project months PERSONNEL

(in days)

OTHER

EC Consultant Local Accomodation Per Diem in EU in NIS Techn. N.E.

Flights Local Travel EU exp Techn. E.U. N.I.S.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Exp. Reps. Exp. 1 General Management of the project 36 18 1617 7 12 10 2 Management of the Special Fund 12 16 3 Reporting to the Task Manager 12 12 10 4 Review and comments on all reports issued by contractors 4 12 5 Setting up an agenda of project events and milestones 12 12 6 Renovation of Baku office (end) 1 6 7 Procurement of Equipment (end+ addendum) 15 10 8 Preparation and management of the Annual Meeting 10 10 4 10 9 Preparation and management of Working Groups 14 35 10 24

10 Meetings / Nat. Secretaries / Nat. Commissions / counterparts 0 120 10 43 120 11 Meetings with contractors and counterparts / Traceca projects 0 44 15 26 12 Hosting, Maintenance and up-dating of the web sites 73 18 13 Training of the webmaster 0 40 5 40 14 Collection of information and documetns / Technical Library 0 6 15 Day to day assistance to the Permanent Secretariat 0 65 531 418 24 16 Training of the staff of the Permanent Secretariat 0 24

TOTAL

189

448

531

2035

22

72

12

24

20

220

Traceca Intergovernmental Joint Committee Draft Final Report : December 31, 2001

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3 Project Progress in final project period

3.1 Application of the addendum Equipment : • Simultaneous translation equipment was purchased in western Europe as no local supplier can

provide the same type of equipment at competitive prices in Baku; due to manufacturing, trans-port and customs delays, this equipment will be delivered in February 2002.

• A search engine for pdf files was adapted and installed in December 2001 • The direct internet connection set up in Baku improved internet services for the PS as well as visi-

tors including western experts. Training in Baku : training in French and English language was organsied ona regular basis for the staff of the PS. Also, courses on standard computer programmes, including the use of the internet, were organised for this staff

3.2 Assistance to the Permanent Secretariat The team of Technical experts, selected and completed by the end of lJuly, started working effectively in August under the direction of the Senior Expert and the western Supervisor. A competent webmaster was hired; he was trained both on the spot during visits of the western expert and through permanent contact on line with the expert .

3.3 Visits to state participants / Co-ordination of projects :

3.3.1 Visits to National Commissions National Commissions and/or National Secretaries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Ka-zakhstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan, were visited.

3.3.2 Visit to Turkmenistan : Turkmenistan is allowed to participate in Traceca projects but did not sign the Basic Agreement; how-ever, Turkmenistan, after a visit to Ashkhabad decided to join several actions decided by the IGC-TRACECA; its representatives were invited at the Extraordinary Meeting in Tbilissi and approved the principle of designing specific measures for the transport of humanitarian goods.

3.3.3 Traceca projects / Traceca map Regular visits by the Supervisor who is in charge of the co-ordination of Traceca projects were organ-ised in the relevant states. The list of future Traceca projects presented in late July during the Baku Working Group was finalised with the assistance of the Supervisor and adopted on consensus during the Tbilisi Extraordinary Meet-ing; the new procedure was explained in detail and several project fiches were established on the ba-sis of information provided by National Commissions.


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The design of the Traceca map was finalised during the last Baku Working Group and the PS has been able to draw a draft up dated map. This map will be printed and put on the web sites.

3.4 Annual Meeting and Working Groups Annual Meeting : The September 11 events prevented the organisation of the Annual Meeting which was postponed to the spring of 2002 with the same agenda and particularly : reports on current actions, current budget, budget for next year, Traceca Visa, position of the General Secretary, .... Extraordinay Meeting : An Extraordinary Meeting was organised in Tbilissi on December 11-12 in order to make decisions on two urgent matters :

- Adoption of the list of new Traceca projects to be submitted to the European Commisison - Design of specific measures for the transit of humanitarian goods to Afghanistan.

The Meeting was attended by delegations of all 12 state participants plus Turkmenistan. Working Groups : Two working Groups were organised in Baku (october) and in Tbilisi (December) Recommendations adopted appear on Chapter 6 “Appendix”.

3.5 Main decisons made

Apart from what appears above, we wish to point out the 2 follwing measures :

• Traceca Coefficients : After a proposal from the Railways of Kazakhstan, it was decided to promote a new “Traceca Coefficient” based on the observation of current market prices. This new coefficient would enable Railways to quote competitive conditions while staying within the MTT system. This is the first specific “Traceca” measure in the field of railways transport prices.

• Traceca Hot Lines : Operators along the Tracecca corridor are faced with the unlawful conduct of several national and/or regional authorities which stop trucks and fine drivers without any serious reason. They complain about the resulting cost and the waste of time. After a proposal from Kyrgyzstan, all Traceca NS decided to set up « Traceca hot lines” in or-der to assist operators in such situations and help gradually phase out illegal “taxation” of transport and transit operations .


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FORM 2.2 : PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT ( A - "PERSONNEL")

Project title : TRACECA Intergovernmental Joint Commission Project number : TNREG98038_Ext Contract n° :00-0251.00

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Planning period : from August 1 to end (end january 2002) Prepared on : December 31, 2001 EC Consultant : AXIS & Associés

Project objectives : To Increase the competitiveness of the Traceca corridor by improving the co-operation between Traceca partner state To Define, in terms of contents and timing, a Technical Assistance Programme to be financed by the European Union (EU) N° MAIN ACTIVITIES INPUTS TIME FRAME

Year 2001 PERSONNEL (days)

project months E.U. CONS. Local

EU N.I.S. Techn. Exp. Nat.Exp./ Rep.

7 8 9 10 11 12

plan. Pl R Pl R Pl R Pl R 1 General Management of the project 12 12 18 9 1171 1171

2 Management of the Special Fund 6 6 8 6

3 Reporting to the Task Manager 6 6 6 6

4 Review and comments on all reports issued by contractors 3 3 6 6

5 Setting up an agenda of project events and milestones 0 6 6 6

6 Renovation of Baku office (end) 1 1 0 0

7 Procurement of Equipment (end+ addendum) 6 6 5 6

8 Preparation and management of the Annual Meeting / Extraordinary M. 8 8 12 6

9 Preparation and management of Working Groups 6 6 16 12

10 Meetings / Nat. Secretaries / Nat. Commissions / counterparts 0 60 38

11 Meetings with contractors and counterparts / Traceca projects 0 24 20

12 Hosting, Maintenance and up-dating of the web sites 53 53 3 3

13 Training of the webmaster / staff 0 22 22

14 Collection of information and documetns / Technical Library 0 6 6

15 Day to day assistance to the Permanent Secretariat 0 24 20 476 512

16 Training of the staff of the Permanent Secretariat 0 12 12

TOTAL 100 100 214 176 476 512 1171 1171


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FORM 2.2 : PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT ( B - "OTHER INPUTS") Project title : TRACECA Intergovernmental Joint Commission Project number : TNREG98038_Ext

Contract n° : 00-0251.00 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan,

Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Planning period : from July 31, 2001to end (january 25, 2002) Prepared on : December 31, 2001 EC Consultant : AXIS & Associés

Project objectives : To Increase the competitiveness of the Traceca corridor by improving the co-operation between Traceca partner states. To Define, in terms of contents and timing, a Technical Assistance Programme to be financed by the European Union (EU) N° MAIN ACTIVITIES INPUTS TIME FRAME

Year 2001 OTHER

project months Accomodation Per Diem Flights Local travel EU Exp Loc Exp E.U. N.I.S.

7 8 9 10 11 12

plann. Pl R Pl R Pl R Pl R Pl R Pl R 1 General Management of the project 2 3 6 6 5 5 6 6

2 Management of the Special Fund 3 Reporting to the Task Manager 5 5

4 Review and comments on all reports issued by contractors 5 Setting up an agenda of project events and milestones 6 Renovation of Baku office (end)

7 Procurement of Equipment (end+ addendum) 8 Preparation and management of the Annual Meeting 4 6 6

9 Preparation and management of Working Groups 2 2 12 12 10 Meetings / Nat. Secretaries / Nat. Commissions / counterparts 3 5 20 16 36 36

11 Meetings with contractors and counterparts / Traceca projects 8 8 12 12 12 Hosting, Maintenance and up-dating of the web sites 4 4 13 Training of the webmaster / staff 3 3 18 18

14 Collection of information and documetns / Technical Library 15 Day to day assistance to the Permanent Secretariat 21 21

16 Training of the staff of the Permanent Secretariat TOTAL 10 13 28 28 6 6 21 21 10 10 94 94


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FORM 2.3 : RESOURCE UTILISATION REPORT

Project title : TRACECA Intergovernmental Joint Commission

Project number : TNREG9803_Ext Contract n° : 00-0251.00

Countries : Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Moldova Romania, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Planning period : January 2001 / January 2002 Prepared on : 31st December 2001 EC Consultant : AXIS& Associés, 24-26, rue du Cotentin - 75015 - PARIS, France

Project objectives : To Increase the competitiveness of the Traceca corridor by improving the co-operation between Traceca partner states. To Define, in terms of contents and timing, a Technical Assistance Programme to be financed by the Euro-pean Union (EU)

RESOURCES / INPUTS

TOTAL PLANNED (after addendum)

PERIOD PLANNED

PERIOD REALISED

TOTAL REALISED

AVAILABLE FOR REMAIN-

DER PERSONNEL

WESTERN EXPERTS in E.U. (w.days)

Project Director 96 37 37 96 0

Supervisor / Co-ordinator (Baku) 20 10 10 20 0 Communication / Web Expert 73 53 53 73 0

WESTERN EXPERTS in N.I.S. (cal. Days) Project Director 120 60 38 82 32

Supervisor / Co-ordinator (Baku) 270 121 119 270 0 Communication / Web Expert 58 25 25 58 0

LOCAL EXPERTS (w. days) National Expert / Representatives 2035 1171 1171 2035 0

Technical Experts 531 476 512 567 -36

Sub Total 3203 1806 1818 3199 -4


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RESOURCES / INPUTS


PERIOD PLANNED

PERIOD REALISED

TOTAL REALISED


DER

EQUIPMENT

SPECIAL FUND Renovation Baku building (end) 1 0 0 1 0

ADDENDUM

Simultaneous translation equipment (speakers, microphones, cables, station) 1 1 1 1 0

Computers and printers (Technicians Baku) UPS 4 4 4 4 0

desk jet printers 1 1 1 1 0 laser printers 2 2 2 2 0 fax machine 1 1 1 1 0

desk top computers 4 4 4 4 0

monitors 4 4 4 4 0 lap top computer 1 1 1 1 0

Search Engine for PDF files 1 1 1 1 0

Sub Total 20 19 19 20 0


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RESOURCES / INPUTS


PERIOD PLANNED

PERIOD REALISED

TOTAL REALISED


DER

OTHER INPUTS

Per Diem in E.U. 20 10 10 20 0 Per Diem in N.I.S. 220 94 94 220 0

Long Term accomodation (western Expert) 12 6 6 12 0 Long Term accomodation (Technical Experts) 24 18 18 24 0 Local Travel 72 29 28 72 0 Air Tickets E.U. / N.I.S. 22 11 13 25 -3

Sub Total 370 370 -3


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Form 2.4 Output Performance Report


Countries : Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, , Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Planning period : from August 2001 to January 2002 (end)

Prepared on : December 31, 2001 EC Consultant : AXIS & associés, Paris, France

Outputs / Output Results

Deviation / original plan

+ or - %

Reason for deviation Comments on constraints and assump-tions

The MLA is ratified by the 2 remaining states

Iniital Target date : Annual Meeting of May 2001

No deviation

Ratified by all 12 states

Rules of Procedures of the IGC-TRACECA and Statutes of the Permanent Secretariat adjusted

Initial target date : Annual Meeting of May 2001

Not fully adjusted yet

50%

Up-date od rules and statutes : no con-sensus between “legal minded states” (ex. : Armenia/Romania) and “pragmatic” states

Rules on invitations of third parties agreed upon

A Legal Working Grouip is expected to be working on these matters as soon as pos-sible.

Working Procedures and Reporting Procedures are finalised

Initial Target date : after Varna Working Group (April 2001)

Procedures are finalised

Documents are not always sent on time to the PS

80%

Some NS are part time and have not hired the necessary staff to face the work load

“Friendly” pressure from the Secretary General and EU Consultants are expected to improve the situation

Ellected positions of the IGC-TRACECA are filled after a vote during the Annual Meeting

Target date : Annual Meeting Not applicable Postponed Political interests might interfere with a

smooth election process

The office of the Permanent Secretariat is properly staffed (1)

The staff is trained (2)

Target dates : : March / (2) : end of project

No deviation

Re-staffing was completed by the third quarter of 2001

The present webmaster shows great com-petence

Training is a constant process


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National Commissions operate in co-operation with the PS

Target date : after the first or second visits from the Consultant (mid 2001)

National Commissions generated more and more productive outputs in

the third and fourth quarter

However, some national authorities do not involve National Commissions or Natiojnal Secretaries at the proper level of decision making

IGC-TRACECA authorities are expected to support National Commissions and help them work more effectively.

Working Groups decided by the IGC-TRACECA are in operation and meet on a regular basis

Target date : permanent process

No deviation

Some states participants are insisting on working on legal adjustments.

Legal working groups should convene in early 2002

The Annual Meeting is organised

Original target date : May/June 2001Not organised Postponed at the last minute due to Sep-

tember 11 events

Urgent matters were settled during the “Extraordinary Meeting” called in Tbilissi (December 2001)

Both the TRACECA web sites are hosted, maintained and up-dated

Target dates : hosting and maintenance : in operation

up-dating : permanent process

search engine : September 2001

No deviation

The western expert has been taking care of the up dating (in part only) instead of concentrating only on training and devel-opment.

Now that the web master is trained the process is getting notrmalised

The webmaster is trained :

Target date : permanent processNo deviation

The Traceca Traffic Forecast data base is effectively transferred to thePS; its results appear on the web site

Target date : end of projectNo deviation Implemented in August

A Traceca technical library is set upand completed in Baku

Target dates : Traceca reports library, end of March

Documentary information on partner states, permanent process

The Technical Library is set up in Baku

Translation of Conventions is not completed

The PS is overburdened by translation problems as some National Commissions do not provide the requested information in both official languages

Working procedures must be more thor-oughly enforced regarding the use of both official languages


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The Baku Office building is renovated and the Permanent Se-cretariat is properly equipped

Target dates : office building, March 2001

equipment, May 2001

No deviation at the end of fourt quar-ter

The addendum was approved by EC au-thorities in July only.

Renovation of the building is completed

The Secretariat is properly equipped, in-cluding the offices of Technical Experts

Simultaneous translation equipment was ordered in France and is being shipped to Baku

A “quasi” business plan for the next three year is designed

Original target date : Annual Meeting in Tashkent (May 2001)

Not implemented

The proposal made by the Consultant in mid 2001was not discussed thoroughly

Working Groups have not discussed fully the design of a budget

The financial matters were postponed for discussion after the Annual Meeting

The E.U. has allocated funds in order to cover expected expenses until mid 2003

Partner states have not yet decided to contribute to the budget of the IGC-TRACECA

The E.U. contribution is not considered sufficient to cover some expenses such as hiring local experts on a permanent basis

The selection process of the Traceca projects is adapted

Target date : end of project

No deviation

The Action Plan, designed through the new procedure, was approved by the Extraordinary Meeting of Tbilissi

(December 11 - 12)

Some National Commisisons did not start to identify and review new projects soon enough

Documents for new Traceca projects are produced

Target date : permanent processNot quite satisfactory yet

Many proposals were unsatisfactory (pro-ject fiches incomplete / projects not com-patible with Traceca objectives / budgets not compatible with traceca funding)

The western Consultant had to involve itself more thoroughly in the process than expected

Financing of investment proposals by international financial institutions and commercial partners is stimulated

Target date : permanent process

Satisfactory with the permanent assistance of the western co-

ordinator


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4 Overall Report on the total project

4.1 General management of the project

4.1.1 Addendum : The Consultant proposed an addendum in order to improve the assistance to the Permanent Se-creatriat as follows :

- western experts in N.I.S. : more time is allocated to the support of the Permanent Secretariat, including the development of the web sites

- western experts in E.U. : some more time is allocated for better management of the project, including financial management and preparation of meetings

- local experts : a full team of technical experts is assisting the Permanent Secretariat in study-ing and issuing proper recommendations

- office expenses in Baku : they have been adjusted to the needs of the technical experts - internet connection : a direct line is planned in order to improve communications between all

IGC-TRACECA parties and also to help visiting experts. - local travel is adjusted to the needs of the technical experts - equipment for Baku office : adjusted in order to take into account the needs of the technical

experts ( 4 computers, 2 printers, 4 UPS, 1 fax machine ) - equipment for Baku office : equipment for simultaneous translation was added to the budget - equipment for Baku office / web sites : the installation of a search engine is planned - training of Baku staff : training in foreign languages and in standard computer programmes is

planned The addendum was discussed with the Task Manager, presented in June to the European Commis-sion and accepted in July. It has been implemented immediately.

4.1.2 Financial management and Special Fund : Financial management includes :

- the management of funds allocated to the Permanent Secretariat on a monthly basis, - the financial management of meetings, though local experts or counterparts are trained in or-

der to take this reponsibility in the future - monthly money transfers to National Commissions and National Secretariats whenever possi-

ble; otherwise, cash is brought to the few Commissions which do not enjoy a bank account due to specific local regulation

- financing of equipment for the Permanent Secretariat.

4.2 Assistance to the Co-ordination of the TRACECA Programme.

4.2.1 Present projects :

4.2.1.1 Technical Assistance : The coordination of 5 TA projects launched under the previous coordination team assignment was continued: • Central Asian Road Border Crossing and Road Feasibility Study Contractor / COMPUTER Solution – Contract signed July 2001/Duration : 24 months.


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First Mission in Central Asia was organized in August 2001and all countries were visited. Inception report was issued in September 2001. Module B will start only after previous agreement be-tween Uzbek Government and EBRD. • Intergovernmental Joint Commission for the Implementation of a Multilateral Agreement. Contractor / AXIS - Extension signed January 2001 / Duration : 12 months. Financial Addendum was signed in July 2001. Progress report issued in September 2001. • International Road Transport Transit Facilitation Contractor / SWK - Time extension of 15 months – Completion of the project : June 2002. Time extension is foreseen only for the completion of delivery of Equipment. • Traffic Forecasting and Feasibility Studies BCEOM - End of the project : August 2001. Final Report will be issued end of August 2001. Hand-over of the database and the Model was organ-ized with the Permanent Secretariat beginning of September 2001. • Caucasian Road Sector KOCKS -Starting – Contract signed December 2000 / Duration : 12 months. Progress report was issued in July 2001. Tender Documents for the construction of the Gasan Su Cay and Shemkir bridges in Azerbaijan were issued beginning of August 2001. Fi-nancial Addendum and Time extension (till March 2002) are foreseen. 4.2.1.2 Investment Projects : In collaboration with the consultants appointed by the EC for the coordination and supervision, contin-ued support was given to 7 ongoing direct investment projects: • Design and construction of Rail ferry facilities in the Port of Poti. ( Certificate of Final Acceptance has been issued February 2001 ) • Improvement of the existing Rail Ferry terminal and Construction Facilities at the Port of Illiy-

chevsk. ( Certificate of Final Acceptance has been issued July 2001 ) • Establishment of a Cargo Movement Computer System and Supply of Computers and Communi-

cation Equipment for the Ports of Poti and Illiychevsk. ( Certificate of Final acceptance has been issued March 2001 ) • Container Services between the Caspian Sea Ports of Baku and Turkmenbashi. ( Certificate of Final Acceptance has been issued September 2001 ) • Rehabilitation of the Rail Ferry Terminal at the Port of Aktau ( Completion of the project June 2001/ Official opening September 2001 ) • Caucasus Optical Fiber Project. ( On-going project / Starting date May 2000 / Completion of the project June 2002 ) • Supply and Delivery of cargo Handling Equipment ( Certificates of Final Acceptance have been issued July 2001 )

4.2.2 New Traceca projects In accordance with the Action Plan of the first IGC Annual Meeting of Tbilisi (March 2000) the TRACECA program 2000 was established for a total budget of 11.5 M Euro, as follow: • Harmonisation of Border Crossing Procedures. • Unified Policy on Transit Fees and Tariffs. • TRACECA Coordination Team. • Pre-feasibility Study of a New Rail Link between the Ferghana Valley, Bishkek and Kashgar in

China. • Central Asia Railways Telecommunications.


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• Supply of Navigational Aid Equipment. Tenders of the Technical Assistance Projects (1,2,3,4 & 5) took place in June/July 2001 and have been evaluated in August 2001. Signatures of contracts started in November 2001. Tender of the Investment Project (Supply of Navigational Aid Equipment) has been published in Au-gust 2001 and evaluated in October 2001. In addition, two Investment Projects financed within the TACIS National Budgets of Georgia and Azer-baijan were published in the last quarter : • Supply and delivery of track and turnouts for the rail ferry terminal at the port of Batumi, Georgia. • Construction of the Gasan Su Cay and Shemkir bridges in Azerbaijan.

4.3 Support of the Permanent Secretariat

4.3.1 Auditing of the staff The Consultant in collaboration with the TRACECA Task manager audited the staff of the Secretariat in order to make sure that this staff was employed according to plan and job descriptions provided ear-lier. First audit took place in March 2001 before the working group meeting of Varna. The second took place in May 2001 before the working group meeting of Baku. After the first audit and in agreement with the General Secretary and National Secretaries, it was de-cided to organise a Technical Team in the framework of the Permanent Secretariat, starting to work in July 2001. The Technical Team comprise : - A Senior Expert - A Maritime Expert - A Road Expert - A Rail Expert Recruitment was organised by the Permanent Secretariat, with publication of the job profiles (See Annex) in each signatory country. Evaluation of the candidatures was organised in June 2001 and the Technical Team was appointed beginning of July 2001. A specific Secretary for the Technical Team was appointed in same time. After the second audit, the Permanent Secretariat was reorganise as follow : Administrative Team: - Office Manager - Office Clerk - Secretary - Webmaster - Driver Technical Team: - Senior Expert - Maritime Expert - Road Expert - Rail Expert - Secretary


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The Office Manager and The Senior Expert are fully responsible of their Team and have to report to the Supervisor. In addition a Translator, working under the responsibility of the Supervisor was appointed in August 2001.

4.3.2 Training of the staff The first phase of the training started in March 2001 and was completed by the end of the project : - English Training Courses ( done by The British Council ) - French Training Courses ( done by AXIS – Local expert ) Training in computer programmes started in September 2001 and were completed by the end of the project

4.3.3 Financing of the Permanent Secretariat A special bank Account was opened and all transfers (Salaries, Office Expenses, Travelling expenses) were done monthly or quarterly. The Office Clerk is fully in charge of the accounting and is reporting directly to the Supervisor.

4.3.4 Activities of the Permanent Secretariat - Preparation of the agenda, conference room facilities, invitations and minutes of the Working Group meetings. - Preparation and organisation of missions to Turkmenistan. - Preparation of the agenda and organisation of the co-ordination mission (Caucasus) of the Optical Fiber project, May 2001. - Preparation of the agenda, conference room facilities invitations and minutes of the first Freight for-warders meeting organise in Baku , May 22nd . - Preparation of the agenda, conference room facilities invitations and minutes of the meeting with trans-caucasian Oil operators , July 16th . - Preparation and organisation of the EC/PS Mission to Tashkent for the preparation of the Tashkent IGC annual meeting. - Preparation of the agenda, conference room facilities invitations and minutes of the Railway Working Group meeting organise in Baku, July 19-20. - Preparation of the agenda, conference room facilities invitations and minutes of the meeting with the OSJD organisation organise in Baku , September 5th . - Gathering and preparation of the future TRACECA Projects (TRACECA Projects 2001 & TRACECA Action Plan for the Tashkent Annual Meeting). - Preparation of the agenda, conference room facilities invitations and minutes of the Working Group and Extraordinary Meeting organise in Tbilisi, December 11-12, 2001. - Maintenance of the TRACECA Library.

4.4 Communication and web sites

4.4.1 Objectives of the Communication Expert The objectives of the communication expert was :

• to create the IGC-TRACECA web site (design, user-friendlyness, ...) • to train the web master (site up-dating, HTML language, HTML publishing, mastering of

Dreamweaver 3, mastering of Fireworks 3)


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• to validate (and possibly correct) up dates made by the web master • to finalise the training of the web master depending upon difficulties identified • to start extending the competence of the web master to the overall architecture of the

TRACECA site which is more complex than the IGC-TRACECA site After the addendum was signed, objectives were extended to :

• install a permanent internet connexion in Baku • install a local network • install an e-mail server so as to manage all necessary e-mails locally.

4.4.2 Missions of the Communication Expert : March mission Training was concentrated on : Acrobat (in order to be able to master the conversion from .doc files to .pdf files) Fireworks 3 and Photogenetics in order to optimise the compression of files and to optimise the quality of the pictures Day to day operations were devoted to : Validate up-dates Separate the management of the two sites as they enjoy two differnent names (traceca.org and igc-traceca.org) May mission It appeared that reports received by the PS were not in the format requested from Consultants. Some reports were sent in tens of separate files and in different formats. Incorporating such reports in the site became time consuming and the training of the web master was re-oriented to mastering the con-version of formats and the optimisation of files. July mission The former web master had been dismissed and the western expert had to compensate his absence by up dating himself some needed reports. While doing so the expert started a new system , i.e. to separate the texts and the graphics which makes the whole process much easier. This system was used for the first time on the TRACECA site and the end result is a simplified ap-proach to the contents of reports. Decembre mission As a new web master had been hired, the western expert together with the new webmaster could face difficulties accumulated during the previouds months : a great number of reports to be processed had accumulated (and no time was available to process them from France) the number and power of destructive viruses had also accumulated on the net so that many machines were infected in Baku and had to be cleaned (Sircam and Badtrans for instance) most machines in the PS were not properly protected and a complete audit of the equipment was


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needed. The new web master showed excellent competence on windows and internet procedures and it could be envisaged to appoint him network administrator. On the other hand his experince in communication is limited and more training will be needed in this field. Autonomous e-mail network After installation of the permanenent access to the internet and of the local network, the set up of a server of electronic mail could be envisaged. As a result : from « traceca.org », a sub-domain name « ps.traceca.org » has been created in the French host so that e-mails can be sent DIRECTLY to the server installed in Baku. the webmaster becomes « postmaster ». He can create as many e-mail addresses as needed under the following format : « [email protected] » at no cost. The search engine After the long OCR (optical character reconnaisance) processing of all graphic documents in .pdf for-mat present on the Traceca site, installation of « Alkaline » search engine and files indexing was made possible. Traceca sites now enjoy a search engine which greatly simplify research on reports and other pieces of information.

4.5 National Commissions and National Secretaries

National Commissions are functioning in all 12 states. National Secretaries have been appointed also in all 12 states.

As agreed with the Task Manager and the Monitor, an evaluation of National Secretaries proved ne-cessary in order to better appraise the situation and to make sure that time, efforts and money were well invested in these new institutions.

Also, the evaluation could be helpful in discussions with authorities of state participants.

4.5.1 Evaluation of National Secretaries

During the Varna Working Group, the Consultant proposed an evaluation procedure which was dis-cussed with the National Secretaries. The procedure is based on two documents, a “National Secreta-ry Profile” and a “Guide for Evaluation”.

Based on this proposal, the Consultant conducted an evaluation which appears in the following page.

The results of this evaluation show the following main features :

• Profiles :

Higher education is the rule; transport background is widespread, except for countries which consider that the position of National Secretary is more a political than a technical one; experience proved that NS tend to discuss technical matters and good support from their own national experts is a must.

• Communication :

Performance is questionable regarding regular reports to the Permanent Secretariat; however, infor-mation requested is usually provided, though very often at the last minute; this is certainly an aspect that must be improved except for a few “full time” NS.

• National Commission Meetings :


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Frequency and attendance are usually good when Commissions have been set up on time.

It was felt that these meetings tend to be more informative meetings than real discussion forums; this might be one of the reasons why so few proposals from NS seemed to be fully matered.

• Relations with counterparts :

All NS enjoy a regular relationship with their own colleagues in the Ministry of Transport and their na-tional authorities.

Relations with operators are not clearly established in some cases and in many states, National Commission meetings (or other specific meetings) are not opened to professional operators; this view is definitely not shared by the Consultant which insists on the participation of professional carriers and freight forwarders in order to make proposals as effective and concrete as possible.

• Working Groups :

Attendance is good; absence has always been linked to serious personal or professional problems; in these rare cases some NS did not take the opportunity to send an assistant to Working Groups; the suggestion to include strict rules of attendance in the Rules of procedures and the Statutes should be followed.

4.5.2 Visits to National Commissions

The project Director and the Supervisor have visited almost all National Commissions.

National Commissions enjoy almost a different status in each state; in fact their status should be “nor-malised” : this means that, without interfering with the independence and authority of each state par-ticipant, a standard status should be proposed and discussed during a meeting of the IGC-TRACECA; it would improve communication between all states participants


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Form 3.2 : Project Completion Report


Countries : Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Planning period : from start to january 2002 (end) Prepared on : December 31, 2001 EC Consultant : AXIS& Associés, 24-26, rue du Cotentin - 75015 - PARIS, France Project objectives : To Increase the competitiveness of the Traceca corridor by improving the co-operation between Traceca partner states. To Define, in terms of contents and timing, a Technical Assistance Programme to be financed by the Euro-pean Union (EU)

MAIN ACTIVITIES

INPUTS PERSONNEL (in days) OTHER

EC Consultant Local Flights Local Accomodation Per Diem in EU in NIS Techn. N.E. EU Techn. E.U. N.I.S.

Exp. Reps. travel

exp Exp. azertyuiopqsdfghjklmqsdf1 General Management of the project 36 18 1617 7 12 10

2 Management of the Special Fund 12 16 3 Reporting to the Task Manager 12 12 10 4 Review and comments on all reports issued by contractors 4 12 5 Setting up an agenda of project events and milestones 12 12 6 Renovation of Baku office (end) 1 6 7 Procurement of Equipment (end+ addendum) 15 10 8 Preparation and management of the Annual Meeting 10 10 4 10 9 Preparation and management of Working Groups 14 35 10 24 10 Meetings / Nat. Secretaries / Nat. Commissions / counterparts 0 120 10 43 120 11 Meetings with contractors and counterparts / Traceca projects 0 44 15 26 12 Hosting, Maintenance and up-dating of the web sites 73 18 13 Training of the webmaster 0 40 5 40 14 Collection of information and documetns / Technical Library 0 6 15 Day to day assistance to the Permanent Secretariat 0 65 531 418 24 16 Training of the staff of the Permanent Secretariat 0 24

189 448 531 2035 22 72 12 24 20 220


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3.3 Output Performance Summary


Countries : Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, , Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Planning period : from start to January 2002 (end)

Prepared on : December 31, 2001 EC Consultant : AXIS & associés, Paris, France

Outputs / Output Results

Deviation original plan

+ or - %

Reason for deviation Comments on constraints and assump-tions

The MLA is ratified No deviation

Rules of Procedures of the IGC-TRACECA and Statutes of the Permanent Secretariat adjusted Not implemented

Rules have not been adjusted

Decisions postponed as no consensus could be reached on this subject

This situation does not affect the effective-ness of the IGC-TRACECA

Only rules governing invitations of third parties were agreed upon during the Ex-traordinary Meeting

Though Armenia, Georgia and Romania made proposals, this matter has not been discussed yet.

The matter might be postponed again.

Working Procedures and Reporting Procedures are finalised

No deviation

Elected positions of the IGC-TRACECA are filled after a vote during the Annual Meeting Not applicable Annual Meeting Postponed to Spring of

2002 due to Septemebr 11 events No consequences on day to day opera-tions

The office of the Permanent Secretariat is properly staffed (1)

The staff is trained (2) No deviation


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National Commissions operate effectively and co-ordinate their actions with the Permanent Secretariat No deviation

Working Groups decided by the IGC-TRACECA are in operation and meet on a regular basis No deviation

The Annual Meeting is organised

Agenda had to be adapted to chang-ing situation

The Annual Meeting was first postponed from May to September for lack of proper proposals

Then the events of Septemebr 11th pre-vented it to be organised as planned

An extraordinary Meeting organised in December

Urgent matters were decided during the Extraordinary Meeting

Both the TRACECA web sites are hosted, maintained and up-dated

No deviation

The webmaster is trained : No deviation

The Traceca Traffic Forecast data base is transferred to the web site No deviation Implemented in August

A Traceca technical library is set up and completed in Baku The Technical Library : no deviation

Translation of Conventions : not completed

The PS is overburdened by translation problems as National Commission do not provide the requested information in both official languages

The Baku Office building is renovated and the Permanent Se-cretariat is properly equipped

No deviation

Simultaneous translation equipment is more expensive than expected on site; it had to be bought and sent from western Europe

At the date of the report it is being shipped to Baku from France


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A “quasi” business plan for the next three year is designed

Not approved

The proposals made by the Consultant were not discussed

Financial matters were postponed for dis-cussion after the Annual Meeting

Partner states have not yet decided to contribute to the budget of the IGC-TRACECA

The E.U. contribution is not considered sufficient to cover some expenses such as hiring local experts on a permanent basis

The E.U. has allocated funds in order to cover expected expenses until mid 2003

The selection process of the Traceca projects is adapted No deviation “Action Plan” adopted on time during the

Extraordinary

Documents for new Traceca projects are produced Not quite satisfactory yet Some proposals were unsatisfactory and the pre-selection had to be done by the western consultant instead of the Working Group

National authorities and possibly National Secretaries do not make sure that their proposals match TRACECA objectives

Financing of investment proposals by international financial institutions and commercial partners is stimulated

Satisfactory with the permanent assistance of the western co-

ordinator


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FORM 3.2 : PROJECT COMPLETION REPORT Project title : TRACECA Intergovernmental Joint Commission Project number : TNREG98038_Ext

Contract n° :00-0251.00 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Planning period : from start to end of project (January 2001-2002) Prepared on : December 31, 2001 EC Consultant : AXIS & Associés

Project objectives : To Increase the competitiveness of the Traceca corridor by improving the co-operation between Traceca partner state To Define, in terms of contents and timing, a Technical Assistance Programme to be financed by the Euro-pean Union (EU)

N° MAIN ACTIVITIES INPUTS

PERSONNEL (days)

E.U. CONS. Local

EU N.I.S. Techn. Exp. Nat.Exp./ Rep.

Pl R Pl R Pl R Pl R 1 General Management of the project 12 18 18 9 550 864

2 Management of the Special Fund 6 8 8 8

3 Reporting to the Task Manager 6 6 6 6

4 Review and comments on all reports issued by contractors 3 3 6 6

5 Setting up an agenda of project events and milestones 0 6 6 6

6 Renovation of Baku office (end) 3 1 5 6

7 Procurement of Equipment (end+ addendum) 1 10 5 6

8 Preparation and management of the Annual Meeting 2 6 26 6

9 Preparation and management of Working Groups 3 11 36 18

10 Meetings / Nat. Secretaries / Nat. Commissions / counterparts 0 85 64

11

12 Hosting, Maintenance and up-dating of the web sites 12 20 0 9

13 Training of the webmaster / staff 0 30 24

14 Collection of information and documetns / Technical Library 0 6 4

15 Day to day assistance to the Permanent Secretariat 0 24 30 0 55

16 Training of the staff of the Permanent Secretariat 0 12 12

48 89 295 234 0 55 550 864


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FORM 2.2 : PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT ( B - "OTHER INPUTS") Project title : TRACECA Intergovernmental Joint Commission Project number : TNREG98038_Ext

Contract n° : 00-0251.00 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan,

Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Planning period : from start to end of project (January 2001-2002) Prepared on : December 31, 2001 EC Consultant : AXIS & Associés

Project objectives : To Increase the competitiveness of the Traceca corridor by improving the co-operation between Traceca partner states. To Define, in terms of contents and timing, a Technical Assistance Programme to be financed by the Euro-pean Union (EU)

N° MAIN ACTIVITIES INPUTS

OTHER

Accomodation Per Diem Flights Local travel EU Exp Loc Exp E.U. N.I.S.

Pl R Pl R Pl R Pl R Pl R Pl R

1 General Management of the project 6 4 5 6 5 5 2 Management of the Special Fund 3 Reporting to the Task Manager 5 5

4 Review and comments on all reports issued by contractors 5 Setting up an agenda of project events and milestones

6 Renovation of Baku office (end) 7 Procurement of Equipment (end+ addendum) 8 Preparation and management of the Annual Meeting 8 26 9

9 Preparation and management of Working Groups 30 10 Meetings / Nat. Secretaries / Nat. Commissions / counterparts 5 18 18 85 64

11 Meetings with contractors and counterparts / Traceca projects 8 18 22 20 12 Hosting, Maintenance and up-dating of the web sites 9

13 Training of the webmaster / staff 3 30 24 14 Collection of information and documetns / Technical Library 15 Day to day assistance to the Permanent Secretariat 4

16 Training of the staff of the Permanent Secretariat 6 12 26 44 5 6 0 4 10 10 193 126


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5 Lessons learnt and recommendations /

5.1 Project planning

Project planning was broadly respected. Only ratification by the last 2 remaining states (Kazkhstan and Turkey) was long overdue; however it did not affect the participation of both countries to IGC-TRACECA actions.

The Annual Meeting on the other hand could not be organised at all as it had to be postponed twice :

• In the first instance, because the proposals from NS were not ready for final approval by the IGC-TRACECA

• Then, because the events of September 11 prevented its organisation which was planned only a few days after

5.2 How intended targets were reached

As a general rule, official bodies are fully involved in the project : Ministries of Tansport, Railways, Customs, etc ... . However, it must be noted that, in some instances, NS do not enjoy the competence, seniority and in the end the authority that is expected by the European Commission and which is clearly defined in the Terms of Reference. The situation improved all along the project as concrete results started to show up and NS could de-monstrate the efficiency of the IGC-TRACECA to their own governments; but efforts must be made by state participants which either do not appoint the right people or do not trust the NS that they selected themsleves. As far as operators are concerned, the results are less positive. A specific culture remains in some state participants which consider that operators, particularly private ones, should not be invited to share proposals (not to speak about decisions) with government offi-cials.

Some National Commissions, instead of being open to business people, are restricted to government officials, a composition which is less effective and contradicts the Terms of Reference. The Consultant participated in fruitful meetings when NS invited local operators and debated freely of all pending problems. This must be encouraged.

5.3 Major external factors

Except the postponment of the AnnualMeeting no concrete external factor should be mentionned.

However, let us note that the IGC-TRACECA is gaining more and more attraction from outsiders.

• On one hand Turkmenistan, though not a signatory state, participated in the Extraordinary Meeting in Tbilisi and, by its presence, showed a major interest in the actions of the IGC-TRACECA.

• On the other hand, more and more states and institutions pass the word that they would be in-terested in participating in Meetings and/or Working Groups. Some are even insisting in such a way that it led the IGC-TRACECA to debate and adopt new rules regarding the invitation of third parties. This movement should be carefully monitored before the success of the IGC-TRACECA is de-finitely established; then the IGC-TRACECA will be able to incorporate new members and be-nefit from their dynamism; before success is established, the IGC-TRACECA is running risk


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of being submitted to unfriendly pressures that would endanger its actions .

5.4 General Recommendations

5.4.1 Sustainability and Finances :

The Consultant raised the subject of the sustainability of the IGC-TRACECA several times and made a proposal for studying a fair financial contribution of each state participants.

Obviously, funding of IGC-TRACECA actions by the E.U. led the participants to consider that this was not an urgent matter.

The Consultant feels that it is a mistake that should be corrected; participants must take time and re-view financial problems, study and establish proper rules when money is not needed urgently. The IGC-TRACECA is becoming an organisation liable to produce great results; its budget must be secured well in advance.

5.4.2 Road transport :

Most states are involved in difficult bi-lateral negotiations regarding road transport permits and the ac-cess to the international transport market.

The Consultant met several associations of international road carriers which feel that they are confron-ted with unfair practice from stronger foreign states without any possibility of appeal of questionnable decisions.

Improving tense relations on this specific subject is certainly needed : the present system tends to res-trict the number of transport permits so that the unbalance between states which enjoy a “strong” truc-king industry and states which have a “weaker” trucking industry do not show too much. The end re-sult is another obstacle to the developent of international trade.

Traceca could help, but only whithin the framework of multi-lateral negotiations.

The project to deliver « Traceca permits », similar to the permits distributed in western Europe, should be carefully reviewed as well as its economic advantages, mainly the developmment of trade, which means more benefits and taxes for the state. No short term draw back can resist an honest economic analysis : the apparent ”loss of transit taxes” for instance canot be seriously substanciated; after all no increase in “transit taxes” can be expected when there is no or little traffic develomment, which is now the case; this is just wishful thinking.


1 1


AXIS & Associés Page 2

DRAFT APPENDIXES

1 APPENDIXES ................................................................................................................4

1.1 Ratification of the Basic Agreement / Statements from States Participants .....................5 1.1.1 Armenia..................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1.2 Azerbaijan ................................................................................................................................. 7 1.1.3 Bulgaria ................................................................................................................................... 10 1.1.4 Georgia.................................................................................................................................... 11 1.1.5 Kazakhstan .............................................................................................................................. 12 1.1.6 Kyrgyzstan............................................................................................................................... 13 1.1.7 Moldova .................................................................................................................................. 14 1.1.8 Romania .................................................................................................................................. 15 1.1.9 Tajikistan................................................................................................................................. 16 1.1.10 Turkey ..................................................................................................................................... 17 1.1.11 Ukraine.................................................................................................................................... 19 1.1.12 Uzbekistan ............................................................................................................................... 20

1.2 Working Group - March 21-22 / Varna – Agenda...........................................................21

1.3 Working Group – March 21-22 / Varna - Decisions And Recommendations .................23

1.4 Working Group - June 21-22 / Baku - Agenda ................................................................25

1.5 Working Group - June 21-22 / Baku - Decisions and Recommendations .......................29

1.6 Financial Contribution of State Participants (proposal) .................................................31

1.7 Working Group - July 25-26 / Baku - Agenda ................................................................34

1.8 Working Group - July 25-26 / Baku - Decisions And Recommendations .......................37

1.9 Working Group - October 30-31 / Baku - Agenda..........................................................39

1.10 Working Group - October 30-31 / Baku - Decisions and Recommendations ..............42

1.11 Note on IGC-TRACECA membership .........................................................................46

1.12 Note on “TRACECA Permits” for road transport.......................................................48

1.13 Working Group - December 10-12 – Tbilissi - Agenda ..............................................49

1.14 Extraordinary Meeting of the IGC-TRACECA / Agenda..........................................51

1.15 Extraordinary Meeting of the IGC-TRACECA / List of Participants........................53

1.16 Extraordinary Meeting of the IGC-TRACECA / Final Resolutions............................56

1.17 Extraordinary Meeting of the IGC-TRACECA / Press-Release..................................58

1.18 Appendix to the Rules of Procedures of the IGC-TRACECA .....................................59

1.19 Traceca Projects 2000....................................................................................................61



1.20 Proposals for new Traceca Projects ..............................................................................62 1.20.1 1 - Development and Follow-up of the implementation of the TRACECA VISA and the TRACECA FREIGHT DOCUMENTATION. ......................................................................................... 66 1.20.2 Regulation On The Transport Of Dangerous Goods .................................................................. 68 1.20.3 3 - Central Asia Border Crossing Improvement......................................................................... 70 1.20.4 4 - Improvement of training facilities, equipment system and training of seafarers.................... 72 1.20.5 5 - Feasibility Study For Forming Free Trade Zones In Traceca Ports........................................ 74 1.20.6 6 - Technical and Economic Feasibility Studies for the rehabilitationof the railway lines : ......... 76 1.20.7 7 - Feasibility Study On Establishing A Rail-Sea Combined Transport Link Between Ports....... 79 1.20.8 8 - Financing Of Construction Of The Second Poylu Railway Bridge Through The Kura River. 81 1.20.9 9 - FIATA Freight Forwarders Training.................................................................................... 83 1.20.10 10 - Study on the shipping line with an accent on the ferry links, being a major part of TRACECA corridor. ............................................................................................................................... 85 1.20.11 11 - (Border Crossing between Moladova and Ukraine / To be define ) ................................. 88 1.20.12 12 - Equipment Of Check-Point At The Multimodal Terminal Of Illyichevsk (Ukraine) And Poti (Georgia) Port. ................................................................................................................................. 89 1.20.13 13 - Feasibility Study For Construction Of Highway Termez -Dushanbe-Jirgatal-Sari Tash ... 91 1.20.14 Technical Feasibility Studies Of The Railway Link Between:................................................ 93 1.20.15 15 - Feasibility Study for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Road Kungrad (Kazakhstan) / Beyneu (Uzbekistan) ........................................................................................................ 95 1.20.16 Rehabilitation Of The Border Crossing Railway Track Ayrum (Armenia)-Sadakhlo(Georgia)98

1.21 Structure of the web sites ............................................................................................100

1.22 Traceca web site / up-dating procedures ....................................................................101 1.22.1 How to add a new project ....................................................................................................... 101 1.22.2 How to add a new report ........................................................................................................ 101 1.22.3 How to add a new Marco Polo article ..................................................................................... 101

1.23 Traceca web site / List of reports published / difficulties faced .................................102



1 APPENDIXES RATIFICATION OF THE BASIC AGREEMENT :

• Fac-simile of declarations from state participants WORKING GROUP 1 / 2001 - VARNA - April

• Agenda • Recommendations of the Working Group

WORKING GROUP 2 / 2001 - BAKU - June

• Agenda • Financial contribution of state participants • Recommendations of the Working Group

WORKING GROUP 3 / 2001 - BAKU - July

• Agenda • Recommendations of the Working Group

WORKING GROUP 4 / 2001 - BAKU - October

• Agenda • IGC-TRACECA membership : brief reminder of the provisions of the Basic Agreement • Traceca permits • Recommendations of the Working Group

WORKING GROUP 5 / 2001 - TBILISSI - December

• Agenda EXTRAORDINARY MEETING / TBILISSI � December

• Agenda • List of participants • Final resolutions • Appendix to the rules of procedure • Press release

TRACECA PROJECTS

• Traceca Projects 2000 • Proposals for new Traceca Projects adopted at Tbilissi Extraordinary Meeting

WEB SITES

• Structure of the web sites / List of folders • Up-dating procedures • List of Project Reports published / difficulties met



1.1 Ratification of the Basic Agreement / Statements from States Par-ticipants



1.1.1 Armenia



Azerbaijan



Bulgaria



1.1.2 Georgia



1.1.3 Kazakhstan



1.1.4 Kyrgyzstan



1.1.5 Moldova



1.1.6 Romania



1.1.7 Tajikistan



1.1.8 Turkey



1.1.9 Ukraine



1.1.10 Uzbekistan



1.2 Working Group - March 21-22 / Varna � Agenda

DAY 1 / morning (10:00 – 13:00)

1) Welcome speech by the Minister of Transport

2) Welcome speech by the Representative of the E.U.

3) Speech by the Secretary General / approval of agenda

4) Information from the Consultant

5) Presentation of the present Traceca project: �Traffic Forecasting Feasibility Study�

Coffee break

6) Implementation of IGC-TRACECA decisions:

• List of International Conventions (see handbook and Yerevan Working Group)

• List of transit fees / transit taxes

• Protocol on Railway Tariffs (copy of the letter to fellow railways and Freight forwarders confirming the decisions / data on traffic negotiated under the new tariff conditions)

7) New Traceca Projects

• Briefing on rules and current projects by Representative of the E.U.

• Draft proposals from National Secretaries

Lunch (13:15 – 14:15)

DAY 1 / afternoon (14:30 – 17:30)

8) Sea transport matters:

• Ports: review of port charges (National Secretaries)

• Ports: harmonisation of billing systems

• Ferries: Traceca tariff agreements / draft protocol

9) Legal issues: amendments to the Rules of Procedures

• Attendance

• Agendas

• Role / statute of National Secretaries

• IGC-TRACECA Permanent Representatives in participating states (National Secretaries)

• Information / reporting



DAY 2 / morning (10:00 – 13:00)

PREPARATION OF TASHKENT ANNUAL MEETING

10) Presentation of Meeting Programme:

• Draft agenda of the Meeting

• Agenda of the Working Group (day before Annual meeting)

• Organisation

• Draft final resolution

• 2002 Action Plan: projects

• draft list of Traceca projects)

• 2002 Action Plan: transit matters

• Harmonisation of customs procedures

• Harmonisation of transit charges

• Recommendation for identical transit rules (customs union / identical system / identical taxes and fees)

• Draft recommendation for �TRACECA� transit and transport documents

Lunch (13:15 – 14:15)

DAY 2 / afternoon (14:30 – 16:00)

11) Preparation of Tashkent Annual meeting (continued)

12) Up date of Traceca map

• Up date from Turkey

• Decision on new map / website

13) Miscellaneous matters



1.3 Working Group � March 21-22 / Varna - Decisions And Recom-mendations

Action Plan/Legal Working Groups were held in Varna, March 21-22, 2001 on the initiative of the Sec-retary General of PS IGC TRACECA and invitation of Government of Bulgaria. The meeting reviewed the issues, in accordance with the agenda attached (see Appendix 1). List of participants of the Working Group is attached (see Appendix 2). Representative of Tajikistan didn�t participate in the meeting. On behalf of Government of Bulgaria professor N. Panteev, the Gov-ernor of Varna, took part in the opening of the meeting and welcomed participants. As the result, Working Groups made the following recommendations and decisions: 1. Implementation of “Traffic forecasting feasibility study” EC-TRACECA project Working Group listened and discussed presentation made by the Project Director Mr. Ph. De Laporte and confirmed the necessity of maximum assistance in TRACECA member-states, directed to comple-tion of the project and practical use of its results. 2. Implementation of “Protocol of discussion of tariff policy on freight transportation in interna-tional, including transit railway communication through TRACECA transport corridor”, singed at IGC TRACECA Special Working Group in Baku, December 14-15 2000: Working Group listened to reports, made by National Secretaries of signatory-states of the mentioned Protocol. On this basis Working Group concluded that the main provision of the Protocol (point 1), re-lated with non-use of increasing index to the tariff rates, has not been implemented by most of the member-states. This fact has a negative influence on international image of TRACECA transport corri-dor, since the agreement achieved hasn�t been fulfilled. National Secretaries of Ukraine and Uzbekistan confirmed that railways in their states implement point 1 of above-mentioned Protocol and summoned National Secretaries of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kyr-gyzstan to raise this issue on the Government level in the relevant states. In general Working Group critically estimated existing situation and relates it with reluctance of proper railway bodies to take active measures toward the tariff policy coordination in TRACECA member-states. Working Group considers it to be necessary to raise the issue of implementation of agreements at the IGC Annual Conference. 3. Proposals of member-states on future financing of TRACECA projects: Working Group collected proposals of member-states on future financing of TRACECA projects and applies to EC experts to review them and submit recommendations, to be further discussed at the next Working Group meeting. 4. Amendments and changes to legal documents, settling activity of IGC and its Permanent Secre-tariat:



Working Group considered it to be necessary to complete existing proposals, considering all terms and specific character of work in member-states, as well as review new draft documents at the next Working Group meeting. 5. Preparation for the next Annual Conference of IGC TRACECA and definition of its date: Working Group discussed the date of the next IGC TRACECA Annual Conference and decided to call the second IGC TRACECA Conference in Tashkent, September 2001 and requested Government of Uzbekistan to define exact date of the Conference. Working Group discussed draft agenda of the second IGC TRACECA Conference and decided to ac-cept as a basis the draft agenda, submitted by Permanent Secretariat and obliged National Secretar-ies together with PS to monitor collection, processing and exchange of proposals, data and additional comments of member-states concerning all points of the agenda of Working Group. All steps men-tioned above are to ensure good arrangement and involving of National Secretary into the preparation process of the Conference as well as the Working Group, to be arranged a day before plenary ses-sions of IGC TRACECA, according to the following points (confirms the points of the draft agenda of Working Group): The Permanent Secretariat together with EU experts a) National Secretariat of Kyrgyzstan b) National Secretariat of Moldova a) National Secretariat of Bulgaria and Georgia b) National Secretariat of Bulgaria National Secretariat of Uzbekistan together with the Permanent Secretariat and EU experts National Secretariat of Romania together with the Permanent Secretariat and EU experts National Secretariat of Romania together with the Permanent Secretariat and EU experts National Secretariat of Romania together with the Permanent Secretariat and EU experts 6. Working Group requested the Permanent Secretariat to report to member-states the date of the next Baku Working Group well in advance. 7. Working Group participants appreciated National Secretary of Bulgaria for hospitality and effective assistance, actively provided during the Working Group.



1.4 Working Group - June 21-22 / Baku - Agenda

MAIN ISSUE : PREPARATION OF THE 2nd ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE IGC TRACECA (Tashkent, September 26-28, 2001)

Topic Speakers Output

1

Day 1

10.00 – 11.30 – Activities of the Secretariats:

• Legal status of the Permanent Secretariat and its staff

• Staff of the Permanent Secretariat

• New budget

• Hiring of a Senior Expert and Technical Experts

• Information and reporting from National Secretaries

• Visits to National Commissions

• Meetings with operators / main claims / suggestions

Coffee break

Zviad KVATCHNATIRADZE

Ikrom NAZAROV

EU Consultant

All National Secretaries

EU Consultant

Information on current and future actions

Findings after recent visits to National Commissions in the Caucasus and Central Asia

2

11:45 – 13-00 : Traceca projects :

• Current Traceca projects

• Pending new projects / probable starting dates

• Future Traceca projects :

Review of selection principles

Presentation of the first draft list

EU Consultant

Information on current and future Traceca projects

Information of selection process

First selection: draft list of Traceca projects for 2002

13.00 – 14.00 – Lunch



3

14:15 – 14-45 : Preparation of Tashkent Annual Meet-ing :

• Methodology

• Organisation

• Budget Matters

EU Consultant

Uzbek Chairman of Organising Committee

Uzbek National Secretary

Framework for selecting items to be put on the agenda

Detailed organisation framework

4

14.45-16.15 – PREPARATION OF TASHKENT AGENDA / Protocol on Railway Tariffs:

• Status of the Baku agreement / reasons for the non implementation of the agreement

• Proposals from Kazakhstan / a practical approach

• Comments from the Consultant

16.15-16.30 – Coffee-break

Key Note speakers:

Vadim TURDZELADZE

Yerzhan SULEYMENOV

Draft recommendation for Tashkent Annual Confer-ence: Principles of a specific Traceca Railways tariff policy

5

16.30-18.00 – PREPARATION OF TASHKENT AGENDA / Review of road transit problems:

• Comparison of transit charges (PS and National Sec-retaries)

• Difference between official information and actual practice (examples in Central Asia)

• Suggestions for collecting real data

• Proposal for transit freedom


Key Note speakers:

Soleimna ZAKYROV

Venceslau UNTILA

Speakers :

All National Secretaries

• Set up of an “Observatory of real transit charges and procedure”

• Draft recommendation for Tashkent Annual Meeting: Technical annex on freedom of transit



6

Day 2

9.00-10.00 – PREPARATION OF TASHKENT AGENDA / Traceca visa :

• Review of the problem: difficulties faced by operators

• Proposals for standard �Traceca� documents and for �Traceca visa�

• Proposals for assistance of transport operators

Key Note Speakers:

Sabirjan ABDURAKHMANOV (visa)

Suleiman ZAKYROV (hot line)

Draft Recommendation for Tashkent Annual Con-ference

• Traceca visa for drivers

• Traceca documents

Set up of a Traceca “hot line” in National Secre-tariats

7

10.00-11.00 – PREPARATION OF TASHKENT AGENDA / Sea transport matters:

• Review of port charges

• Ports: harmonisation of billing systems

• Ferries: Traceca tariff agreements / draft pro-tocol

11.00-11.15 – Coffee-break

Key Note speaker:

Radoslav ATANASOV

Speakers:

National Secretaries involved

First draft of a protocol on port charges

First draft of a protocol on ferry tariffs

8

15.30-17.00 - PREPARATION OF TASHKENT ANNUAL CONFERENCE / Conference Programme:

• Draft agenda of the Conference and agenda of the Working Group (day before Annual Conference)

• Draft agenda for Tashkent WG

• Draft agenda for Tashkent Annual Conference

• Selection of draft final resolutions

13.00-14.00 – Lunch



9 14.15-15.00 - Financial matters:

• Principles of partner state contribution

• Calculation of annual fees

EU-Consultant

• Draft proposals for sustainability

10 15.00-15.45 - Legal issues: amendments to the Rules of Procedures:

• Attendance / Agendas / Role / status of Na-tional Secretaries

• IGC-TRACECA Permanent Representatives in participating states

• Information / reporting

Key note speaker:

Ana-Maria POPESCU

Speakers:

All National secretaries

Draft Recommendation for Tashkent Annual Con-ference:

Amendments to the Rules of procedures and statutes

11 15.45-16.00 -Miscellaneous



1.5 Working Group - June 21-22 / Baku - Decisions and Recommenda-tions

Action Plan/Legal Working Groups dedicated to the preparation of the second Annual Meeting of the IGC-TRACECA (Tashkent, September 26-28, 2001) were held in Baku on June 21-22, 2001. The meeting reviewed the issues in accordance with the agenda attached (see appendix 1).

List of participants of the Working Group is attached (see appendix 2). As the results, Working Groups made the following recommendations and decisions :

1. Staff of the Permanent Secretariat :

Senior and Technical experts were selected by an ad hoc committee; the list of selected experts was submitted to the European Commission and approved for financing.

Experts will have to be available to take their positions as soon as the financial addendum is com-ing into force.

2. Traceca projects :

The WG closed the list of project proposals for consideration to the European Commission.

3. Railways tariffs :

The WG considers that no general agreement including all commodities, all relations and all coun-tries can be reached before a thorough study is made by the next Traceca project �Unified Policy on Transit Fees and Tariffs�.

The WG acknowledges 2 proposals, one of Georgia regarding draft amendments to the Technical Annexes of the M.L.A.and one of Kazakhstan; the proposal of Kazakhstan takes into account new opportunities created by the opening of the Aktau ferry terminal and the new rail connection in Uzbekistan linking the port of Aktau of Kazakhstan; the WG finds that it constitutes a fair basis for a future agreement ; it decides to invite representatives of the Railways of Kazakhstan, Uzbeki-stan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to meet in Baku within the next 2 weeks and to finalise an agreement based on the Kazakh proposal.

The draft agreement will be presented to the next WG for approval ; if approved, it will be put on the agenda of the Tashkent Annual Meeting

4. Transit procedures :

The WG acknowledges the Proposal of Moldova for simplified transit procedures which is based on a text already approved by a majority of partner states; it asks the Moldovan National Secretary to finalise his proposition by including Traceca transit documents in the text and to issue a draft recommendation.

The draft recommendation will be presented to the next WG for approval ; if approved, it will be put on the agenda of the Tashkent Annual Meeting

5. Traceca visa :

The WG acknowledges the proposal of Uzbekistan; it approves the principles of a Traceca visa; it recommends that future proposals link objectives for Traceca documents for goods and Traceca visas for persons; it requests that the National Secretary of Uzbekistan present a draft proposal stating objectives and time schedule for the implementation of Traceca visa to the next WG.

The draft proposal will be presented to the next WG for approval ; if approved, it will be put on the agenda of the Tashkent Annual Meeting



6. Traceca “hot line” :

the WG acknowledges the information delivered by Kyrgyzstan on difficulties faced by transit op-erators due to the incorrect or unlawful application of legislation or procedures by officials; it ap-proves the project of setting up �Traceca hot lines� in all Traceca countries under the control of National Secretaries.

It requests that the National Secretary of Kyrgyzstan present a draft proposal to the next WG for approval; if approved, it will be put on the agenda of the Tashkent Annual Meeting

7. Maritime operations :

The WG acknowledges the report from Bulgaria on the collection of data regarding maritime mat-ters; its request Romania to supply the information as soon as possible; it decides to request fur-ther analysis by the team of technical experts about to be hired by the Permanent Secretariat.

The WG decides that data collected should be available to interested parties and be inserted in the web site.

The WG requests from the National Secretary of Bulgaria a draft recommendation stating the ob-jectives and time table for a future protocol on Traceca maritime transport.

The draft recommendation will be presented to the next WG for approval ; if approved, it will be put on the agenda of the Tashkent Annual Meeting

8. Financial matters :

The WG acknowledges the draft proposal made by the consultant; it decides that this documents should be provided to National authorities in order to prepare counter proposals; counter propos-als will studied in a further WG in order to agree on a draft recommendation.

The draft recommendation will be presented to a WG for approval ; if approved, it will be put on the agenda of the first Annual Meeting following the WG

9. Legal matters :

The WG considers that legal matters are of major importance. It considers that, in spite of the pre-sent proposals, not enough progress has been made by partner states so far and that a Legal Working Group should be invited as soon as possible.

The WG considers that Legal Experts should take as a basis for debates the documents approved in the Tbilisi Conference as well as proposals made by Armenia, Romania and Uzbekistan.

The Permanent Secretariat will organise this Legal Working Group; expenses will be covered by the states participants.

The Legal Working Group will issue a recommendation which will be presented to the next WG for approval ; if approved, it will be put on the agenda of the next Annual Meeting

10. Communication principles :

The General Secretary reminds the National Secretaries that exchange of information is of major importance for the success of its endeavours.

The WG decides that National Secretaries should keep the Permanent Secretariat informed at all times by e-mails and provide documents in the 2 official languages of the IGC-TRACECA.

For WG meetings, no documents shall be taken into account if provided later than 2 weeks before the date of the meeting.

11. Next Meeting :

The WG decides to invite to the next meeting the Chairman in office, the Chairman of the next Annual Meeting, the representative of the European Commission and the Chairman of the Na-tional Commission of the depository country.

The dates are set on July 23 and 24; the WG will take place in Baku.



1.6 Financial Contribution of State Participants (proposal)

A - The Statutes of the Permanent Secretariat state in “ARTICLE 7 – FINANCES” :

�The Annual Budget is established by the Secretary General who shall submit it to the IGC-TRACECA for approval.

Salaries and expenses of the Permanent Secretariat shall be covered by the members of the IGC-TRACECA within the framework of the approves budget.

The Secretariat is allowed to receive grants from other parties.

For the first fiscal year, the IGC-TRACECA members adopt the budget which appears in the TRACECA project "INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION� ; this budget is financed in full by the European Commission �

B - Sustainability of the IGC-TRACECA :

National Traceca Commissions and The European Commission expressed some concern about the sustainability of such a body as the IGC-TRACECA. The European Consultant, in line with the terms of reference of the IGC-TRACECA project and in order to offer a solution to this problem makes the suggestions that follow.

C - Suggestions :

The Consultant suggests to follow the rules widely applied in international institutions.

1) Principles :

• Each Annual Meeting must approve the budget for the next year ; this budget must show (i) the amounts financed by outside contributors and (ii) the amounts to be financed by partner states

• Partner states must base their contribution on their Gross National Income per capita (GNI per capita), as it appears on World Bank publications

• Partner states must agree on a minimum and a ceiling of their contributions

Percentages based on Gross National Income per Capita GNI

per capita Percentage

ARMENIA 490 4,39% AZERBAIJAN 460 4,13% BULGARIA 1410 12,65% GEORGIA 620 5,56%

KAZAKHSTAN 1250 11,21% KYRGYZSTAN 300 2,69%

MOLDOVA 410 3,68% ROMANIA 1470 13,18% UKRAINE 840 7,53%

UZBEKISTAN 720 6,46% TAJIKISTAN 280 2,51%

TURKEY 2900 26,01%

TOTAL 11150 100,00%

Source : World Bank Development Indicators Data Base



2) Actual Figures suggested :

Minimum contribution : 4 % / Ceiling : 15 %

Corrected

Percentage

ARMENIA 5% AZERBAIJAN 5% BULGARIA 14% GEORGIA 7%

KAZAKHSTAN 12% KYRGYZSTAN 4%

MOLDOVA 5% ROMANIA 14% UKRAINE 8%

UZBEKISTAN 7% TAJIKISTAN 4%

TURKEY 15%

TOTAL 100%

3) Budget Forecast for the IGC-TRACECA :

Base on current figures a full year budget would amount approximately to :

National Secretariats 187 200

Indemnities National Secretaries 115 200 Office expenses 72 000

Working Groups 63 250 Trips and per diem 63 250

Annual Meeting 60 000 Total expenses 60 000

Permanent Secretariat 162 040 Indemnities of the Secretary General 18 000 Allocation of the Secretary general 12 000 Trips of the Secretary General 13 320 Staff 40 800 Technical Experts 43 200 Trips of the Senior Expert 5 920 Office expenses 28 800

GRAND TOTAL 472 490

This table shows that the overall budget includes expenses of the Permanent Secretariat as well as expenses of National Secretariats; however, the present Terms of Reference of the IGC-TRACECA project state that National Secretaries represent the IGC-TRACECA in their own country. As a result, having the P.S. bear expenses of the National Secretariats is in line with present agreements.



Based on such figures, partner states contribution would amount to :

Breakdown of contribution

Percentages

Contributions of state par-

ticipants

National Secretariat

other expenses

ARMENIA 5% 23 625 15 600 8 025 AZERBAIJAN 5% 23 625 15 600 8 025 BULGARIA 14% 66 149 15 600 50 549 GEORGIA 7% 33 074 15 600 17 474 KAZAKHSTAN 12% 56 699 15 600 41 099 KYRGYZSTAN 4% 18 900 15 600 3 300 MOLDOVA 5% 23 625 15 600 8 025 ROMANIA 14% 66 149 15 600 50 549 UKRAINE 8% 37 799 15 600 22 199 UZBEKISTAN 7% 33 074 15 600 17 474 TAJIKISTAN 4% 18 900 15 600 3 300 TURKEY 15% 70 874 15 600 55 274

TOTAL 100% 472 490 187 200 285 290

D - Suggested amendments to the Rules of Procedures :

�ARTICLE 7 � FINANCES :

The Annual Budget of the Permanent Secretariat is established by the Secretary General who shall submit it to the IGC-TRACECA for approval.

The budget will list all planned expenses; expenses might include :

- Indemnities and allowances for the Secretary General and the staff of the Permanent Secretariat

- Indemnities and allowances for the National Secretaries representing the Permanent Secretariat in each partner state

- Office expenses

- Expenses for Working Group meetings and for the Annual Meeting including per diem and allow-ances paid to participants

The budget will list all planned receipts; planned receipts include grants and contributions offered by third parties as well as contributions of partner states.

The budget for the next fiscal year must be approved during the Annual Meeting.

A financial report on the past budget will be submitted by the Secretary General to the Annual Meeting for approval by partner states.�



1.7 Working Group - July 25-26 / Baku - Agenda

MAIN ISSUE : FINALISATION OF THE AGENDA OF THE 2nd ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE IGC TRACECA (Tashkent, September 26-28, 2001)


DAY 1

1 DAY 1 / 10.00 – 11.00 – Opening of the WG Chairman IGC / Mr Merab Adeishvili (MoT&C) Georgia.

Co-chairman / Mr Daniel Stroobants (T M) European Commission

Chairman of the Depository Country / M. Sharivov Vice 1 Minister � Azerbaijan

Future Chairman IGC / Mr Abdurakhmanov, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary � Uzbekistan

General Secretary / Mr Zviad Kvatchantiradze IGC.

Preparation of the Tashkent Annual Meet-ing

2 DAY 1 / 11.00 – 12.00 – Activities of the Secretariats:

• Set up of the technical team : Senior Expert and Technical Experts


Supervisor

EU Consultant / National Secretaries


3 12.00-13.15 – FINALISATION OF TASHKENT AGENDA / Protocol on Railway Tariffs:

• Results of the meeting of RW experts

• Agreements form RWs involved

Key Note speakers:

Vadim TURDZELADZE

Yerzhan SULEIMENOV

Draft Protocol

Draft recommendation for Tashkent An-nual Meeting

13.30 – 14.30 – Lunch



4 15.00-16.15 – FINALISATION OF TASHKENT AGENDA / Review of road transit problems:

• Proposal for transit PROCEDURES


Key Note speakers:

Veaceslau UNTILA

Soleiman ZAKYROV

• Finalised text on simplified customs procedures

• Draft recommendation for Tashkent Annual Meeting

5 16.15-17.30 – FINALISATION OF TASHKENT AGENDA / Review of road transit problems:

• Proposal for a Traceca �Hot Line�

Key Note speaker:

Soleiman ZAKYROV

• Finalised text on simplified customs procedures

• Draft recommendation for Tashkent Annual Meeting

DAY 2

6 Day 2 9 h.30-11.15 – FINALISATION OF TASHKENT AGENDA / Traceca visa :

• Proposals for standard �Traceca� documents and/or �stamps� as well as for �Traceca visa�

Key Note Speaker:

Sabirjan ABDURAKHMANOV

Draft Recommendation for Tashkent An-nual Conference


• Traceca documents/stamp

7 11.15-12.00 – FINALISATION OF TASHKENT AGENDA / Sea transport matters:

• Information on data collection

• Information on data anlysis by thechnicians

• Perspectives for a draft protocol

Key Note speaker:

Radoslav ATANASOV

Draft recommendation on a study to issue a protocol on maritime trasnport matters (port and ferry services)

8 11:30-12:45 - FINALISATION OF TASHKENT AGENDA/

Pending questions :

• Finances and draft budget / review of current actions

• Legal matters : Rules of procedures and statutes / review of current actions / Meeting of Legal Working Group

Zviad KVATCHNATIRADZE

Ikrom NAZAROV

EU Consultant

Time table for finalising preparatory work on both matters



13.00-14.00 – Lunch

9

14:00 – 15-00 : Traceca projects & Miscellaneous

• Future Traceca projects :

Presentation of the draft list

Information about project fiches

EU Consultant

First selection:

draft list of Traceca projects for 2002

10

15.00-17.00 – FINALISATION OF TASHKENT ANNUAL MEETING / Conference Programme:

• Draft agenda of the Annual Meeting and agenda of the Working Group (day before Annual Meeting)

Chairman IGC / Mr Merab Adeishvili (MoT&C) Georgia.




General Secretary / Mr Zviad Kvatchantiradze

IGC.

• Agenda for Tashkent WG

• Agenda for Tashkent Annual Meeting


• Draft final communique

• Finalisation of list of participants

• Finalisation of practical matters

11 Conclusion /

DAY 1 / 11.00 – 12.00 / Separate Meeting - Permanent Secretariat / Preparation Tashkent Conference

Chairman IGC / Mr Merab Adeishvili (MoT&C) Georgia.





37

1.8 Working Group - July 25-26 / Baku - Decisions And Recommendations

The Third 2001 Working Group of the IGC-TRACECA convened in Baku under the Chairmanship of M. Merab ADEISHVILI, Minister of Transport and Communications of Georgia, Chairman in office of the IGC-TRACECA. This Working Group was attended by M. Abid SHARIFOV, Vice Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, representative of the depository country and by Mr. Abdugafour ABDURAKHMANOV, Ambassador of Uzbekistan, representing the next Chairman of the IGC-TRACECA.

It was attended also by representatives of the European Commission, MM. Daniel STROOBANTS, Task Man-ager and Reinhold BRENDER, Administrator.

All but one country were represented, Mr. ZAKYROV, being absent for serious personal reasons.

The meeting was opened by the aforementioned speakers; it then reviewed the issues in accordance with the agenda attached (see appendix 1).

The list of participants to the Working Group is attached (see appendix 2).

As the results, the Working Group made the following recommendations and decisions :

12. Protocol on Railways Tariffs :

The WG approves the recommendations produced by the Working Meeting of authorised representatives of Railways, port authorities and shipping lines of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan regarding container tariffs.

It recommends that the Railways of Azerbaidjan and of Georgia apply the special �TRACECA COEFFI-CIENT� of 0.5 starting from October 1st 2001.

It urges the Railways of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to present their own �TRACECA COEFFICIENT� not later than September 1st 2001.

It urges other Railways to establish and present their own �TRACECA coefficients� for container shipments.

.

13. Proposal for transit procedures :

The WG acknowledges the proposal of Moldova regarding simplified transit procedures; it considers that this is a thorough study of a system which could adequately solve Traceca transit and visa problems.

It recommends that national experts from states participants, experts of the Permanent Secretariat and ex-perts of the next Traceca project called �Border Crossing Procedures� consider it as a priority.

14. Traceca Hot Line :

The WG considers that Traceca hot lines should be put into operation as soon as possible. Such Traceca hot lines would have two objectives : (i) to collect information on claims issued by transport operators and (ii) to provide assistance to operators within the limits of power and influence of the National Secretaries.

It asks the Permanent Secretariat to design posters bearing the Traceca logo and the relevant telephone numbers so that they could be installed at all border points or other useful places.

The National Secretaries will share their experience regarding Traceca hot lines during a future WG.


38

15. Traceca visa :

The WG recommends that, before the end of 2002, the Governments of the states participants, in close co-operation with the Traceca Intergovernmental Commission and its Permanent Secretariat, elaborate and in-troduce unified documents, allowing to identify TRACECA freights, simplify administrative, customs and boundary procedures, to shorten the time spent in shipping freight through the Traceca corridor and to en-sure free and easy access to the territories of the parties for the accompanying persons involved in transit transportation process along the Traceca corridor.

16. Maritime operations :

the WG approves the proposal made by Bulgaria; it asks the Permanent Secretariat and the future western experts of �Unified Policy� Traceca project :

- to collect data regarding Traceca ports and shipping lines

- to make data available through the website

- to analyse data in order to point out differences between local and world practice

- to make proposals in order to harmonise port and shipping conditions and to determine a marketing strategy.

17. Traceca projects :

The WG acknowledges the list of 71 projects proposed by National Secretaries. It understands and approves the negative comments made by the Consultant regarding several requests which are not substantiated by precise information.

It asks the Permanent Secretariat and the Consultant, in co-operation with National Secretaries, to draw a definite list of a limited number of projects that could be proposed to the European Commission for future funding.

18. Financial matters :

The WG considers that this is an extremely important matter and that the proposal made by the Consultant needs to be considered with great care by all National authorities.

Counter proposals from states participants are not available yet. As a result, discussions on financial matters should be postponed to a later Working Group and this topic cannot be considered for the agenda of the An-nual Meeting.

19. Legal matters :

The WG considers that the a Legal Working Group cannot convene before the Tashkent Annual Meeting.

As a result, it decides that such a Working Group should be called as soon as possible after Tashkent ; it confirms that the presence of Legal Experts is necessary.

20. Next Meeting :

The next meeting will take place in Tashkent on the eve of the Annual Meeting, i.e. on 26 September 2001


39

1.9 Working Group - October 30-31 / Baku - Agenda

(BAKU / AZERBAIJAN)

MAIN ISSUE: FINALISATION OF THE PROPOSALS FOR THE SPECIAL IGC-TRACECA MEETING IN NOVEMBER 2001.

DAY 1


1 10.00 – 11.00 – Opening of the WG

Postponement of the Annual Meeting of IGC

Presentation of the �Special� Meeting

Proposal for the �Annual� Meeting

Secretary General

NS Georgia

NS Uzbekistan

Draft Recommendation to be adopted dur-ing the Special Meeting regarding:

• Postponement of the Annual Meeting in Tashkent

• Financial consequences

2 11.00 – 13.00 – Activities of the Secretariats:

• Activities of the Permanent Secretariat

• Activities of the technical team


Secretary General / Supervisor

National Secretaries

Senior Expert


Presentation of a DESK DOCUMENT showing the present state of all actions de-cided (pending / completed)

Information on the starting activities of the Team of Technical Experts


3 13.00-13.45 – FINALISATION OF THE AGENDA OF THE SPECIAL MEETING / “TRACECA COEFFICIENTS”:

• Results of new meetings, organized by the PS IGC TRACECA

• Agreements form RWs involved

Senior Expert

Key note speakers: NS Kazakhstan and oth-ers.

Draft Protocol

Draft recommendation for the Special Meet-ing

14.00 – 15.00 – Lunch


40

4 15.00-15:45 – FINALISATION OF THE AGENDA OF THE SPECIAL MEETING / ROAD TRANSIT PROBLEMS:

• Proposal for TRANSIT PROCEDURES

• Harmonisation of CUSTOMS PROCEDURES

Senior Expert

Key Note speakers:

NS Moldova / NS Kyrgyzstan

Draft recommendation for the Special Meeting

5 15.45-16.30 – FINALISATION OF THE AGENDA FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING / “HOT LINE”:

• Set up of Hot lines

• Presentation of the Traceca poster identifying all �hot lines� telephone number

• Draft recommendation for the Special Meeting

All NS

Secretary General

• Report on the present status of �hot lines�

• Draft recommendation on the set up of �Hot Lines� for the Special Meeting

6 16.30 -17.45 � FINALISATION OF THE AGENDA FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING / TRACECA VISA:

• Proposals for standard �Traceca documents� and re-lated procedures for goods

• Proposals for �Traceca visa� for persons

Key Note Speaker: NS Uzbekistan

Draft Recommendation for the Special Meeting


• Traceca documents/stamp for goods and related procedures

DAY 2

7 9.30-10.30 � FINALISATION OF THE AGENDA FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING / MARITIME TRANSPORT:

• Collection of data regarding port and ferry charges

• Analysis of data collected by Technical Ex-perts

• Presentation of a draft protocol

• Set up of a “Maritime Transport Working Group”

Senior Expert

Key note speakers: NS Bulgaria and others

Results of comparative studies (tables and charts on present pricing system)

Draft recommendation on a protocol on port and ferry services


41

8

10:30 – 11-30: FINALISATION OF THE AGENDA FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING / NEW TRACECA PROJECTS

• Procedure for the selection of new Traceca projects

• Future Traceca projects presented to the European Commission for final selection:

Secretary General / Supervisor / Senior Ex-pert /

EU Consultant

Note on �Procedure for the pre-selection of new Traceca projects�

Final Draft list of Traceca projects for 2002

9 11:30-12:45 – MEETING OF LEGAL WORKING GROUP


• Legal matters: Rules of procedures and statutes

• IGC-TRACECA membership: application from new states

Secretary General

All NS

EU Consultant

To be discussed

13.00-14.00 – Lunch

10 14:15-15:30 – NEW PROPOSAL of SG /

ON ROAD TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

• “TRACECA PERMITS”

• Legal and financial consequences

Secretary General / Senior Expert

To be discussed

11 15.30-16.00 – ADOPTION OF THE FINAL RESOLU-TIONS OF THE WORKING GROUPS

Final Resolutions of the Working Group

Break

12

16.30-17.30 – FINALISATION OF THE AGENDA FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING / AGENDA / PROGRAMME:

• Draft agenda of the Special Meeting and agenda of the Working Group (day before Special Meeting)

Secretary General

Agenda for next WG

• Agenda for the Special Meeting


• Draft final communiqué

• Finalisation of list of participants

• Finalisation of practical matters


42

1.10 Working Group - October 30-31 / Baku - Decisions and Recom-mendations

The Fourth 2001 Working Group of the IGC-TRACECA convened in Baku was attended also by the representative of the European Commission, Mr. Daniel STROOBANTS.

All but one country were represented, Mr. UNTILA, being absent for serious personal reasons.

The meeting reviewed the issues in accordance with the agenda attached (see appendix 1).

The list of participants to the Working Group is attached (see appendix 2).

As the results, the Working Group made the following recommendations and decisions :

21. Humanitarian Aid

Taking into consideration the existing situation in Central Asia and the reinforcement of humanitarian actions the TRACECA state-participants are ready to provide the most favourable conditions for transit traffic of humanitarian goods to the above mentioned region.

For this purpose, the IGC-TRACECA charges the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC-TRACECA with the following actions :

• Within the shortest period of time, to work out proposals aimed at simplification of administrative procedures for the transit of humanitarian goods transported to this region

• To develop and introduce the monitoring system for the transit of humanitarian goods transported to this region

• To study specific proposals aimed at reducing transport costs of humanitarian goods

22. Next Meetings of the IGC-TRACECA The Working Group : Acknowledges the position of Uzbekistan which is ready to organise the Annual Meeting at any date con-venient to all parties Considers that the Annual Meeting should best be postponed to the spring of 2002 Considers that urgent decisions regarding the Action Plan (new projects) and the Traceca Map must be taken as soon as possible Recommends to organise an �Extraordinary Meeting� as proposed by the Chairman in office of the IGC-TRACECA in Tbilissi in early December of this year. This meeting will have two sessions attended by the Ministers of Transport , one regarding decisions to make on the 2 above mentioned urgent matters and the other being a working session devoted to elaborat-ing further instructions needed to prepare the Tashkent Annual Meeting. Recommends to postpone the Annual Meeting in Tashkent to March 2002.


43

23. TRACECA VISA :

The Working Group : Confirms the need for taking urgent measures to simplify existing administrative, customs and boundary procedures for transit transportation in TRACECA Parties, as these measures should facilitate the im-provement of the whole transportation process with increasing of attraction of the TRACECA corridor. Recommends to establish Working Groups within TRACECA National Commissions, involving representa-tives of Ministries of Foreign Affairs, customs, boundary, railways and shipping agencies, to study the draft of a new Technical Annex to the MLA, concerning the international customs transit procedures for the car-riage of goods by rail, with marking the SMGS railway bill as �the common unified customs transit document for all TRACECA routes� (draft is attached). Recommends within TRACECA National Commissions to produce draft proposals, concerning simplifica-tion of legalization and issue of entry visas for direct participants of transit transportation process (the list is to be defined). Charges PS IGC TRACECA with summarizing of National Commissions� proposals, and, on the basis of EU members experience, producing some amendments, directed to step-by-step bilateral and multilateral simplification of visa procedures. Approves the proposal of PS IGC TRACECA, concerning introduction of �TRACECA Visa�, initiated by Uz-bekistan Republic, and requests European Commission to foresee the study of this issue with further elabo-ration of appropriate recommendations, within TRACECA Project �Harmonization of Border Crossing Pro-cedures�. Requests the Governments of the Parties in close cooperation with the Permanent Secretariat of IGC TRACECA and National Commissions to promote actively these proposals to make possible the �TRACECA VISA� implementation not later than January 1, 2003.

24. Traceca Hot Line :

The Working Group :

Approves the draft poster designed by the Permanent Secretariat and asks the PS to manage the printing of definite documents bearing the TRACECA logo (A3 format) and the relevant telephone numbers, which should be installed in all border-crossing points along the whole TRACECA routes not later than March 1, 2002 (draft is attached)..

Urges National Secretaries to set up the hot lines as soon as possible as decided earlier and to inform the PS of the telephone numbers of hot lines.

Approves the draft resolution presented to the IGC-TRACECA

25. Maritime Transport : The Working Group : Recommends that TRACECA Parties sign the agreed Protocol on Sea Transport for the sake of harmoni-zation of tariff policies (port charges and handling operations) and increase of TRACECA Corridor�s com-petitiveness. Charges the PS IGC TRACECA with monitoring of implementation of the given Protocol.


44

Charges the PS IGC TRACECA with finalizing of collection of data, to be further placed on TRACECA web site, as well as monitoring of implementation of the given Protocol.

26. TRACECA PERMITS :

The Working Group :

Considers this new proposal for multi-lateral transport quotas

Decides to study further this proposal in order to possibly asks the experts of the new Traceca project to take it into consideration

27. ACTION PLAN / NEW TRACECA PROJECTS

The Working Group :

Acknowledges the note on project fiches elaborated by the Consultant and urges NS to use them in the future

Approves the draft list established for presentation to the Extraordinary Meeting of the IGC-TRACECA

Acknowledges the possibility to supplement this list with new projects, not later than November 15 and in co-ordination with the PS

28. TRACECA COEFFICIENTS

The Working Group : Approves the recommendations, produced by the Working Meeting of authorized representatives (Experts in tariff policies) of railways, ports and shipping companies in TRACECA Parties, held in Baku, July 19-20, 2001 and relevant proposal of PS IGC TRACECA, concerning this matter, adopted by the Working Group of IGC TRACECA (Baku, July 26, 2001). Recommends national r/w companies/ r/w administrations of the Parties to apply the following special Co-efficients since 01.01.2002 (Azerbaijan � 0,5, Georgia � 0,5, Kazakhstan - -------------, Tajikistan - -----------, Uzbekistan - ----------) to current rates of �Tariff Policy of CIS RW on International Freight Transportation� on transit transportation of goods in containers through Aktau, Baku and Turkmenbashi Ports. Recommends national r/w companies / r/w administrations of other Parties of the MLA and member -states of TRACECA Program to study the issue of using the similar TRACECA coefficients by the na-tional railway companies/administrations. Suggests that for the sake of TRACECA corridor�s competitiveness and increase of the traffic flows, the Permanent Secretariat, jointly with the National Commissions, should consider the issue of estab-lishing the TRACECA Working Group on r/w tariffs under the project �Tariffs and transit fees�.

29. ROAD TRANSIT PROBLEMS :

The Working Group :

Considers that this extremely important matter should be further studied and that Ns should make counter proposals; as a result this matter will not be on the agenda of the �Extraordinary Meeting�.


45

10. LEGAL MATTERS :

The Working Group acknowledges expression of interest by several parties interested in participating in IGC-TRACECA actions.

It considers that the PS should make proposals in order to allow such parties that would bring support to its actions.

It considers that flexible solutions should be worked out in order to be able to invite third parties with-out immediately up dating the M.L.A., the Rules of Procedures or the Statutes of the IGC-TRACERCA and the Permanent Secretariat.

It considers that, nevertheless, establishing rules of procedures of Working Groups or updating exist-ing rules must be planned and that a Legal Working Group will have to be called as planned earlier.

11. NEXT WORKING GROUP

The next WG will take place the day before the Extraordinary Meeting


46

1.11 Note on IGC-TRACECA membership

BRIEF REMINDER OF THE BASIC AGREEMENT

TERMINOLOGY

State-Participants or « Parties » : signatory states Pre-amble

Intergovernmental Commission (IGC-TRACECA) : set up by the Parties Arti-cle 8

Working Groups : established by the IGC-TRACECA Arti-cle 8

Permanent Secretariat (PS) : established by the IGC-TRACECA Arti-cle 9

Permanent Representations maintained by the PS in each of the Partie Arti-cle 9

Associates : Regional Economic Integration Organisations Article 14

Status available to candidates :

STATES : « state-participant » Article 14

REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION ORGANISATIONS : « associate » Article 14

Status not planned by the B.A.

« Observer », « Donor », other �..

PRESENT STUATION

1. States can only become « state-participants » ; no other position is planned for state ; a procedure is planned for the admission of a state to the position of « state-participant »

2. Associate membership is not clearly defined (rights and duties are unknown ) ; a clarification is needed on this point

3. Bodies other than States or Regional Economic Integration Organisations

• cannot be parties to the B.A.

• cannot join the IGC-TRACECA (which « consists of the Highest Governmental Authorities of the Parties » - Article 8-2)

• could join Working Groups which set their own rules (if these rules allow it)

PROPOSALS TO BE DISCUSSED

1. Admission of States and Regional Economic Integration Organisations is planned by the BA; rules are set; only an amendment of the BA could change these rules

2. Only candidates sharing the objectives listed in article 3 of the B.A. should be considered for ap-plication

3. The IGC-TRACECA can adapt rules of procedures of WG in order to allow new participants

4. New participants should offer practical support : information / assistance / finances


47

5. New participants admitted to Working Groups could attend the plenary sessions of the Annual Meeting (as �invited� parties)

6. The status of �observer� with no duty is not acceptable

7. Before admitting new participants present Rules of Procedures and present statutes must be up-dated


48

1.12 Note on �TRACECA Permits� for road transport

(Number and financial aspects) Principles :

TRACECA authorities will issue road transport permits (licences) that will allow Traceca road carriers to perform a transport operation from any Traceca state to any other Traceca state.

These permits will supplement existing permits issued on the basis of bi-lateral negotiations.

A limited fee will be charged to the road carrier

Distribution of these permits will be organised under the responsibility of the IGC-TRACECA and in co-operation with Traceca National Commissions (or Traceca states Ministries of Transport)

Number of permits :

In the beginning a ceiling of 2.000 permits is planned for the Traceca area.

This number will be adjusted depending upon demand and the Traceca policy defined by state-participants.

State-participants will enjoy a number of permit computed according to their share of the Traceca budget (see financial proposal made during the June Baku WG)

The following table is based on this principle

State-participant Share of the budget

Number of permits

Armenia 5% 100

Azerbaijan 5% 100

Bulgaria 14% 280

Georgia 7% 140

Kazakhstan 12% 240

Kyrgyzstan 4% 80

Moldova 5% 100

Romania 14% 280

Tajikistan 8% 160

Turkey 7% 140

Ukraine 4% 80

Uzbekistan 15% 300

TOTAL 2.000

Budget :

Out of the $ 150, 50 $ would go to the National Commissions delivering the permits and $ 100 to the Permanent Secretariat.

The overall revenues generated for the Permanent Secretariat would amount to :

2.000 x 100 = 200.000 $


49

1.13 Working Group - December 10-12 � Tbilissi - Agenda

(Tbilissi – Georgia)


1 10.00 – 10:15 – Opening of the WG

Presentation of the �Extraordinary� Meeting

Presentation of the Final Resolutions of the �Extraordi-nary� Meeting

Secretary General

2 10:15 – 10:30 – Activities of the Permanent Secre-tariat:

• Activities of the Pe.rmanent Secretariat

• Activities of the technical team

Secretary General / Supervisor

Senior Expert

Information on the activities of the Team of Technical Experts


3

10:30 – 11-00: NEW TRACECA PROJECTS

• Future Traceca projects presented to the European Commission for final selection:

Secretary General / Supervisor / Senior Ex-pert /

EU Consultant

Final adjustments

Final Draft list of Traceca projects for 2002

4 11:00 – 11:15 : APPROVAL OF DRAFT RESOLUTIONS FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING

Secretary general


5 11:45 - 12.15 – “TRACECA COEFFICIENTS”:

• Results of meetings, organized by the PS IGC TRACECA

• Agreements form RWs

Senior Expert

Key note speakers: NS Kazakhstan and oth-ers.

Draft Protocol

Draft recommendation for the Annual Meet-ing

6 12.15-12.30 – “HOT LINES”:

• Set up of Hot lines

• Posters

All NS

Secretary General

Report on the present status of �hot lines�


50

7 12:30 – 13: 30LEGAL MATTERS

• Amendment to the Rules of procedures

Secretary General

Draft Recommendation fo the Annual Meet-ing

Lunch

8 14:30-14:45 – ROAD TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

• “TRACECA PERMITS”

• Legal and financial consequences

Secretary General / Senior Expert

NS

Position of state-participants

9 14:45 – 15:15 SUSTAINABILITY OF THE IGC-TRACECA


All participants

Draft recommednation

10 15.15-15:45 – AGENDA OF THE ANNUAL MEETING /

• ROAD TRANSIT PROBLEMS: Proposal for TRAN-SIT PROCEDURES / Harmonisation of CUSTOMS PROCEDURES

• MARITIME TRANSPORT : Protocol on Port and ferry charges

• TRACECA VISA : draft legislation on transit for per-sons and goods through Traceca states

All participants

Up date of state participants position

First draft agenda for next WG and Annual Meeting

11 16.30-16.45 – ADOPTION OF THE FINAL RESOLU-TIONS OF THE WORKING GROUPS

NS Final Resolutions of the Working Group

12

16.45-17.00 – ADOPTION OF THE DRAFT AGENDA FOR NEXT WG AND FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING

Secretary General

First draft agenda for next WG

First Draft Ahenda for Tashkent


51

1.14 Extraordinary Meeting of the IGC-TRACECA / Agenda

Tbilisi, Georgia

Day 1 – December 11, 2001 Chairman: Georgia

Co-Chairman: Uzbekistan Co-Chairman: European Commission

PLENARY SESSIONS

10:00 – 11:00 OPENING OF PLENARY SESSION 1

• Opening of the Extraordinary Meeting of the TRACECA Intergovernmental Commis-sion

• Welcome speeches: Georgia, European Commission 11:00 - 11:15 Break 11:15 - 12:15 PLENARY SESSION 2

• Adoption of the Agenda of the Extraordinary Meeting

• On urgent actions for the providing of the most favourable conditions for transit traffic of humanitarian goods to Afghanistan / Special resolution

12:15- 14:00 Lunch 14:00 – 16:00 PLENARY SESSION 3

• Adoption of the new priority projects (Action Plan) for TRACECA in 2002 �2003. / Resolution

• Adoption of the new TRACECA Map / Resolution 16.00 – 16.30 Break 16:30 – 18:00 PLENARY SESSION 4

• Information on activities of the Working Groups for the preparation of the topics for the Tashkent Meeting (Conference) in March 2002

19:00 Dinner


52

Day 2 – December 12, 2001 10:00 – 12:00 PLENARY SESSION 5

• Discussions on format of the Tashkent Annual Meeting (Conference) in March 2002, taking in to account applications of the third parties and interest of the other interna-tional organizations to participate in the actions of IGC TRACECA.

12:00- 12:30 Break

12:30- 13:00 PLENARY SESSION 6

• Adoption of the Final Resolutions of the Extraordinary Meeting of the IGC TRACECA

• Closing of the Extraordinary Meeting of the IGC TRACECA.

13:00 - Lunch


53

1.15 Extraordinary Meeting of the IGC-TRACECA / List of Participants

STATES

NATIONAL DELEGATIONS

ARMENIA

1. Andranik MANUKYAN � Head of Delegation, Minister of Transport and Communications

2. Grant BEGLARYAN -First Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications

3. Gagik GRIGORYAN - National Secretary

AZERBAIJAN

1. Abid SHARIFOV- Head of Delegation, Deputy Prime-Minister

2. Mikail JAFAROV,-Head of Transport Department, Cabinet of Ministers

3. Rafik ZEYNALOV- National Secretary

BULGARIA

1. Plamem PETROV - Head of Delegation, Minister of Transport and Communica-tions

2. Radoslav ATANASOV- National Secretary

3. Alexander KHADJOV- Consul General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Georgia

4. Ludmila TRENKOVA- State Expert, Member of the TRACECA National Com-mission

GEORGIA

1. Merab ADEISHVILI - Head of Delegation, Minister of Transport and Communica-tions

2. David APTSIAURI- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador

3. Tamara BERUCHASHVILI- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

4. George GOGIASHVILI- National Secretary

KYRGYZSTAN

1.Kubanychbek MAMAYEV - Head of Delegation, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications

2. Suleyman ZAKIROV - National Secretary

3. Yrkin MASADYKOV - Director of State Direction for project planning and con-struction of the Railways

KAZAKHSTAN

1. Zhenis KASIMBEK - Head of Delegation, Chief of Sea Transport Department, MoTC

2. Yerzhan SULEIMENOV - National Secretary

3. Alexander GLOK - Financial Director of Aktau Sea Port

4. Ascar RAHMETZHANOV - Representative of Exchequer of �Kazmortransflot�

5. Sanzhar ELYUBAYEV - Head of Marketing of Freight Forwarding Department by �Kazakhstan Temir Zholi�

MOLDOVA 1. Yiuri SPIVACHENKO – Head of Delegation, Deputy Minister of Transpor


54

ROMANIA

1. Ion SELARU - Head of Delegation, First Deputy Minister of Public Works, Trans-port and Housing, 2. Ana-Maria POPESCU - National Secretary 3. Elena TOMA - Head of General Department of International Relations

TAJIKISTAN

1. Abdurahim ASHUROV - Head of Delegation, First Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications 2. Solih MOUMINOV - National Secretary 3. Anvar NUROV - Chief Expert of the Transport and Communications Department by the President�s Office

TURKEY

1. Selcuk COSCUN - Head of Delegation, National Secretary, Deputy Undersecre-tary of the Ministry of Transport 2. Yalchin KAYA ERENSOY - Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Deputy General Director of Multilateral Economic Relations, MFA 3. Metin KATI, Head of Foreign Relations Department, Ministry of Transport

TURKMENISTAN (Guest)

1. Nurmuhammet SEIDOV – Head of Transportation Service, Turkmenistan Rail-ways 2. Orazberdi HUDAYBERDIYEV – Deputy Head Division, Turkmenistan Railways

UKRAINE 1. Oleg PETRENKO - Head of Delegation, State Secretary of the Ministry of Trans-port 2. Yuri TERTYSHNIK - National Secretary

UZBEKISTAN

1. Zholgas ZHOLDASHEV - Deputy Chairman of Road Committee 2. Abdulla KHASHIMOV - National Secretary, Council Minister of Foreign Affairs 3. Bahtiyer RAHIMOV - Chief of Department for International Transport Corridors, Transit Policy and Information Systems, Expert

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Cornelius WITTEBROOT

DG-RELEX, Head of the Unit

Daniel STROOBANTS

AID CO, Task Manager

OFFICIAL GUEST OF THE MEETING

United Nations Economic And Social Commission For Asia And The Pacific (UN ESCAP) Barry CABLE

Director of the Transport, Communications, Tourism and Infrastructure Devel-opment Division, Executive Secretariat, UN ESCAP


55

PERMANENT SECRETARIAT AND EUROPEAN CONSULTANTS

NAME POSITION

Zviad KVATCHANTIRADZE Secretary General of PS IGC TRACECA,

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

Ikrom NAZAROV

Deputy Secretary General

Vadim TURDZELADZE Senior Expert

Navruz ERKINOV

Expert for Railway Transport

Yaroslav BELY

Expert for Road Transport

Nazim MAMEDOV

Expert for Maritime Transport

AXIS et associés / Transtec

Jean-Louis ROMANINI Project Director

Marc GRAILLE Coordinator

Dornier Consult

Gabriela FRITZ

TRACECA Coordination

Bodo ROSSIG

TRACECA Coordination


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1.16 Extraordinary Meeting of the IGC-TRACECA / Final Resolutions

Tbilisi, December 11-12, 2001 Under the chairmanship of Mr. Merab Adeishvili, the Minister of Transport and Communications of Georgia, The Intergovernmental Commission �TRACECA� for Transport Corridor Europe-the Caucasus-Asia, assembled at the Extraordinary Meeting in Tbilisi/ Georgia on December 11-12, 2001, has discussed the issues, provided by the agenda and adopted the following final resolutions: 1 - PROVIDING THE MOST FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF HU-MANITARIAN GOODS AND RECONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TO AFGHANISTAN The IGC-TRACECA: Taking into consideration the existing situation in Afghanistan and the reinforcement of humanitarian actions recommend to the state-participants of the Basic Agreement as well as TRACECA Program to provide the most favourable conditions for transit traffic of humanitarian goods to the above-mentioned region, also to take the necessary measures to extend this cooperation in the transport of reconstruc-tion materials in the period of reconstruction in Afghanistan. For this purpose, the IGC TRACECA charges the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA with the following actions: Within the shortest period of time, to work out proposals aimed at simplification of administrative pro-cedures for the transportation of humanitarian goods and reconstruction materials transported to this region; To develop and introduce the monitoring system for the transport of humanitarian goods and recon-struction materials transported to this region; To study specific proposals aimed at reducing transport costs of humanitarian goods and reconstruc-tion materials. 2. PRIORITIES OF THE ACTION PLAN The IGC TRACECA: Approves the recommendations of the IGC TRACECA Action Plan Working Group, which identified and set the priorities for the major transport and transit problems for years 2002-2003 and kindly ask the European Commission for financial support. 3. TRACECA MAP The IGC TRACECA: Approves the recommendations of the IGC TRACECA Working Group, which identified new railway, road and sea routes in TRACECA corridor and decides to approve the submission draft new TRACECA map and charges the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA with issuing this map by the next Meeting of the IGC TRACECA.


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4 - PLACE OF THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING OF THE IGC TRACECA The IGC TRACECA: Confirms that, In accordance with the Basic Agreement and the Rules of Procedures of IGC TRACECA the next Annual Meeting will be held in March 2002 in Tashkent / Republic of Uzbekistan.


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1.17 Extraordinary Meeting of the IGC-TRACECA / Press-Release

The Extraordinary Meeting of IGC TRACECA was held in Tbilisi, December 11-12, 2001 and involved high-rank officials from 12 Parties of the Baku Agreement: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan, though not being the member-state, was invited as well.

The Meeting was opened with the speech of the President of Georgia Mr. E. SHEVARD-NADZE. .

Viewing the current situation in Afghanistan resulted in increase of transportation of humani-tarian aid, the IGC TRACECA recommended to the Parties and members of EU TRACECA Program to provide the most favorable conditions for transpo9rtation of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

The Permanent Secretariat is expected to propose the Parties concrete ways to simplify ad-ministrative procedures of humanitarian goods transit, to produce monitoring system for the goods transit and propose the ways to reduce transportation costs.

The IGC TRACECA identified and approved the projects, aimed at TRACECA transport net development. These projects are of high importance with a total budget of 30 000 000 EURO.

The IGC TRACECA approved the new TRACECA routes, as well as the draft TRACECA of-ficial map.

This meeting was the first to involve the Government of Turkmenistan and UN ESCATO rep-resentatives.

As the Co-chairman, the European Commission actively participates in activity of the IGC TRACECA.


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1.18 Appendix to the Rules of Procedures of the IGC-TRACECA

Regarding Meetings of the IGC-TRACECA 1 - Types of Meetings:

In accordance with Article 8.2 of the Basic Multilateral Agreement, IGC TRACECA Meetings are to be organised on a regular basis, not less than once a year. Viewing above, IGC TRACECA has defined the following types of its Meetings:

The Annual Meeting:

Takes place each year during the first six months of the current year; among other topics, its agenda must include a report on the current action plan, financial report, draft action plan for the coming year and the budget for the coming year.

Extraordinary Meetings:

Can be called at any time, whenever urgent or specific matters or important problems must be re-viewed.

An IGC TRACECA Meeting can be called a �Conference� for PR purposes.

IGC TRACECA Meetings consist of:

Working sessions: these sessions are devoted to specific matters; all interested parties are invited to participate; working sessions can issue recommendations to the IGC TRACECA

Restricted sessions: these sessions are devoted to confidential matters and procedures; attendance is restricted to Parties of the Basic Agreement; restricted sessions can vote and approve major decisions

Plenary sessions: these sessions are devoted to open discussion of all matters that are not confiden-tial or restricted to Parties of the Basic Agreement; they are open to all participants. 2 - Invitations: 2.1 - Inviting party:

The Inviting Party of an Annual Meeting is considered to be the next Chairman, according to the Arti-cle 3 of the Rules of Procedures of the IGC TRACECA.

The Inviting Party of an Extraordinary Meeting is considered to be the Chairman-in-office or any other Party of the Basic Agreement, approved by all other Parties on consensus.

The Inviting Party is responsible for sending invitations to all participants. 2.2 - Content of invitations: Invitation letters must include the programme of the meeting, its agenda, the draft final resolutions as well as the list of participants, including the list of invited parties. Invitation letters must be sent 40 days in advance. 3 - Chairmen:

Meetings are chaired by the Chairman-in-office.

The European Union is considered to be the Co-Chairman of the meetings as long as it supplies the major part of the TRACECA budget.


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4 – Participants :

4.1 � Parties to the MLA:

Parties of the MLA (member-states) participate in all IGC TRACECA Meetings. They are represented by High-Ranking Governmental Officials or their representatives with full authority to make decisions under the Basic Agreement, in accordance with the Article 8.2 of the Basic Agreement.

4.2. Associate Members:

In accordance with the Article 14.4 of the MLA, Associate Members may also participate in all IGC TRACECA Meetings.

4.3 - Invited Parties / Observers:

The Inviting Party can invite third parties to participate in IGC TRACECA Meetings, whenever their presence is considered useful for the IGC TRACECA. These invited parties are called �observers�. Invitation of Observers must be approved by the Chairman-in-office, in case that the Chairman is not the Inviting Party, and the Co-Chairman.

Observers are third parties actively supporting the actions of the IGC TRACECA, such as Professional Associations, International Financial Institutions and other. Their active support can consist of informa-tion, expertise, finance or any other practical actions.

More than 1 person cannot represent an observer.

Observers can attend working sessions and plenary sessions only; they can speak and participate in debates only with prior agreement of the chairman of these sessions.

5 - Location:

The Inviting Party will host meetings of the IGC TRACECA.

6 - Organisation:

The Inviting Party and the Permanent Secretariat of IGC TRACECA are responsible for the organisa-tion of the IGC TRACECA Meeting. The Permanent Secretariat must plan a detailed programme in advance, on the basis of the Rules of Procedures of IGC TRACECA, including the proposed budget.

This draft has to be sent by the Secretary General of PS IGC TRACECA to the Chairman-in-office and the Co-Chairman for approval at least 4 weeks before the invitations. The draft detailed programme consists of a draft overall programme, a draft agenda, a draft list of participants including invited par-ties and a draft budget.

An approved programme cannot be altered unless with the formal approval of the Chairman-in-office and the Co-Chairman. 7 - Specific rules for Extraordinary Meetings :

The Chairman-in-office or any other Party of the Basic Agreement can propose extraordinary Meet-ings. All Parties and the Co-Chairman must approve it on consensus.

As Extraordinary Meetings are intended for urgent matters, some flexibility is allowed in the application of rules regarding delays and contents of invitations as long as decisions are made on consensus


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1.19 Traceca Projects 2000

Projects name & description Duration in

months Contractors

Starting of the Pro-ject

Budget in EURO

1 Harmonisation of Border Crossing Procedures 24

Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick (UK)

Compass Gmbh (DE) NEA(NL)

SEMA(BE)

November 2001

2 000 000

2 Unified Policy on Transit Fees and Tariffs 24

Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick (UK)

Tebodin (NL) Corporate Solutions Con-

sulting (UK)

January 2002

2 000 000

3 TRACECA Co-ordination Team 24 Dornier System

Consult Gmbh (DE) TRANSTEC SA (BE)

November 2001

2 500 000

4 Supply of navigational aid equipment ( Aktau,Baku & Turkmenbashi ) 12 Several Contractors First half 2002 2 000 000

5 Pre-feasibility Study of a New Rail Link between the Ferghana Valley, Bishkek and Kashgar in China. 12

Lahmeyer Int. SENER Ingeneria (SP)

December 2001

1 500 000

6 Central Asia Railways Telecommunications. 12 Italfer S.p.A (IT) January 2002

1 500 000

TOTAL 11 500 000


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1.20 Proposals for new Traceca Projects

Adopted at the Extraordinary Meeting

(Tbilissi � Georgia )

December 11, 2001


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№ Project name & description Duration

in months Budget in

EURO

1 Development and Follow-up of the implementation of the Traceca Visa and the Traceca Freight Documenta-tion. The general objective of the project is the follow-up of the implementation of simplified rules applicable to transport and transit, developed within the application of the Traceca Multi-lateral Agreement.

24 2 000 000

2 Regulation on the Transport of Dangerous Goods along TRACECA Corridor. The project will include feasibil-ity study of construction of special terminals in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine and proper in-frastructure for Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) Transportation.

24 1 500 000

3 Improvement of Central Asia Border Crossings. Improvement of the conditions for transport on the most heavily trafficked section of the TRACECA corridor in Central Asia, concentrating on border crossing facilities and associated inland functions.

12 3 000 000

4

Improvement of the training equipment system and training system of seafarers staff in the State Maritime Academies and Maritime Administrations according to the technical guidelines and training programs of con-ventions, resolutions and recommendations of International Maritime Organization (IMO) and European Con-ventions.

18 2 000 000

5 Feasibility study for establishment of the free trade zones in TRACECA ports. 24 2 000 000

6 Feasibility study for reconstruction of Railway Sections Jalal-Abad � Kara-Su � Andijan (79 km), Osh - Kara-Su � Andijan (72 km), Lugovaya-Bishkek-Balikchi (322 km), Aktau �Beyneu � Kungrad (700km). The project is aimed at reconstruction and pre-investment study for elaboration of detailed investment plan.

24 2 000 000


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7

Feasibility study for establishment of the rail-sea combined transport link between ports of Samsun, Poti and Batumi, Varna, Burgas, Constantza, Ilichyevsk ports, including rehabilitation of links pan and construction of bogie exchange station in Samsun Port. Additionally, ferryboat lines will set up commercial links between Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Tajikistan and other CIS countries.

12 1 500 000

8

Construction of the second railway bridge over Kura river near Poylu station. The purpose of the project is the financing of the bridge construction. Access, railway materials and equipment will be furnished and installed by the State Railway of Azerbaijan.

12 2 000 000

9

FIATA � Freight Forwarders Training Courses � Following the TRACECA Trade Facilitation project several coun-tries have formed national forwarder associations and affiliated with FIATA, the international body representing Freight Forwarders. FIATA acts to harmonise documentation connected with international transport operations and to ensure appropriate use of such documents. Beneficiary states request assistance with familiarisation and training.

24 2 000 000

10

Marketing study of maritime lines with an accent on ferry links, as the major part of TRACECA corridor. Turning Varna, Burgas, Constantza and Ilyichevsk ports (TEN�s corridor) into logistic centres of TRACECA corridor with further integration to the network of European logistic centres. The project is to be proceeded by pre- feasibility study, aimed at reveal of problems, advantages and mutual benefit for TRACECA member-states.

18 2 000 000

11 (Border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova) The project will be identified within TRACECA Project �Feasibility Study for the improvement of the road and rail border crossings between Moldova and Ukraine� ( TRACECA Project 2001 )

12

2 000 000


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12

Equipment for the multimodal terminal checkpoints in ports of Illichevsk and Poti. Harmonization of border crossings and improvement of goods control and registration procedures. This project has the aim to harmonise and increase effectiveness of Ilyichevsk and Poti ports checkpoint tech-nologies and operations to facilitate their carrying capacity.

12 2 000 000

13

Feasibility study for construction of highway Termez - Dushanbe- Sari Tash. This construction of a new road, especially with access to the neighbour countries and the international main roads, will be the first stimulus for the development of the metal-mining industry, energy, agriculture, to promote the export and the production of these regions and also to create good conditions for development of mountain tourisms and trade.

12 1 500 000

14

Feasibility studies of the re-opening of the railway link Erevan-Nachitchevan-Baku Feasibility studies of the re-opening of the railway link Samtredia-Suchumi Technical feasibility study of the rail link for immediate rehabilitation and pre-investment study to produce a de-tailed plan of investments required to insure railway operations.

12 2 000 000

15 Feasibility Study for the reconstruction/rehabilitation of the road Kundgrad (Uzbekistan) / Beyneu (Kazakh-stan).The project will develop technical and economic justification, including economic and technical surveys directly concerned with investments and preparation of tender documentation.

12 1 500 000

16 Rehabilitation of the border crossing railway track Ayrum-Sadakhlo (12 km). Supply of Intermodal equipment for the container terminal of Gumry.

12 2 000 000

TOTAL

31 000 000


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1.20.1 1 - Development and Follow-up of the implementation of the TRACECA VISA and the TRACECA FREIGHT DOCUMENTATION.

Final Recipients

National TRACECA Commissions,

Justification and objectives

Since the breakdown of the Soviet Union, historical transit routes cross the borders of newly inde-pendent states. On these new border crossings time is wasted and money is spent on formalities; transport costs are rising accordingly.

Also, Traceca states are independent states which face specific situations and must keep their free-dom to design and apply their own laws, rules and regulations. They developed their own legislation and procedures regarding the transit of persons and goods through their territories which, though simi-lar, are not identical.

This situation generates difficulties and paper work for the end users which must face extra costs and delays.

In spite of this situation, Traceca states, considering economic development as a priority, decided to develop trade by harmonising and simplifying transport and transit legal framework. They set up the IGC-TRACECA for this particular purpose.

The general objective of this project is the follow-up of the implementation of simplified rules applica-ble to transport and transit developed within previous TRACECA projects.

Specific objectives will have to deal with customs and customs related rules for goods. Previous work carried out during several Traceca projects paved the way for such a simplification: �Trade Facilita-tion� and �Border Crossing� these projects concentrated on and refined the freight aspects of transit harmonisation. This means that many of the procedures have already been simplified and thereby permits the easier introduction of a TRACECA Visa and TRACECA Freight Documentation.

However, many problems are still pending regarding the transit of passengers, particularly the persons whose activity is directly related to the transit of goods such as truck drivers in road transport or car attendants in railways. Delivery of visas for persons is both time consuming and costly; besides, for one single voyage, persons need as many visas as there are borders to cross. A second specific ob-jective of the project will be to design a set of procedures that will ease and make less expensive the crossing of borders by the citizens of Traceca states.

Traceca states already participate in international customs and visas agreements, but none of them cover the whole area. A specific sub-objective of the project will be to make sure that Traceca visa stay compatible with present customs and visa unions.


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Main Tasks

In order to reach the above stated objectives, the project purpose and deliverables are defined as fol-lows:

· In depth review of documentation and legislation impact concerning international freight in each Traceca country

· In depth review of customs agreements in each Traceca country

· In depth review of visa agreements in each Traceca country

· In depth freight and passenger movement study throughout the Traceca area

· In depth study of legal and legislation processes in each Traceca country

· Alignment with previous and current related projects

· Design of an initial �Freight Pilot Scheme� on freight only in order to apply a new set of simpli-fied rules

· Assistance in the legal implementation of the scheme

· Monitoring of a first phase of the implementation of the �Freight �Pilot Scheme�

· Organisation of seminars with all interested parties of Traceca states in order to plan the ex-pansion of the initial �Freight Pilot Scheme�

· Expansion of scheme

· Feasibility and design of a �Passenger Pilot Scheme�

· Assistance in the legal implementation of the scheme

· Initial introduction of a �Passenger Pilot Scheme�

· Monitoring of the �Passenger Pilot Scheme�

· Organisation of seminars with all interested parties of Traceca states in order to plan the ex-pansion of the initial �Passenger Pilot Scheme�

· Convergence of the implementation of the TRACECA Visa and the TRACECA Freight Docu-mentation.

· Ultimate harmonisation of both procedures and legislation.

Project Duration: 24 months

Project Budget: € 2.000.000


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1.20.2 Regulation On The Transport Of Dangerous Goods

and feasibility study of construction of special terminals (Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Geor-gia) and proper infrastructure for Liquid Petroleum (LPG) Gas transportation

Recipients:

TRACECA National Commissions

Ministry of Transport and Communications of Kazakhstan,

Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan,

Ministry of Transport and Communications of Georgia

Ministry of Transport of Ukraine

Maritime Administrations

Justification and objectives:

Oil and gas transport constitutes the majority of transit traffic through Traceca states at pre-sent. This situation is bound to persist as the Traceca route is considered to be the most efficient al-ternative to deliver oil products to the European and World markets.

It is established that legislation and practice regarding the transport of dangerous goods in the Traceca area is not in line with world standards. No development of the transport of oil products and its related investments can be considered without up dating laws, rules and regulations on one hand and establishing proper procedures on the other hand. One of the specific objectives of this project will be the harmonisation of legislation and procedures along the lines of United Nations and European Directives.

Presently, LPG production in Kazakhstan exceeds 350,000 MT a year. By 2005 production is going to increase up to 500,000 MT a year. LPG is carried on special rolling stock from the Tengiz region to Finland, Eastern Europe and Ukraine with further loading to watercrafts. Transportation cost amounts to 100 USD/mt approximately. A pilot analysis showed that the use of TRACECA Corridor reduces transportation costs down to 70 USD/mt. There is also a strong demand for LPG in Turkey, especially in its Northern part, exceeding 4 MT tones per year.

Viewing the above figures, the important role of this route cannot be disputed. However, the lack of required infrastructure in the region generates additional transportation costs. The Parties (Ministries of Transport and Communications of Kazakhstan, Georgia, the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan and Ministry of Transport of Ukraine) agreed to study LPG transportation through the TRACECA corridor and, in case of positive economic ground, define investments into transport infrastructure of these countries.

Private investors (Chevron Oil, Azpetrol) and international financial institutions (IFIs) attach much im-portance to the investment projects of designing and construction of specialized terminals and proper infrastructure for LPG transportation from Kazakhstan through Azerbaijan and Georgia.


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Construction and improvement of terminals together with appropriate transport infrastructure could create 400-500 additional workplaces in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine and involve local expenses up to 10-15 million USD.

As the Parties agreed, terminals should be constructed as follows:

· Kazakhstan: the port of Yeraliyevo (60 km south/east from Aktau);

· Azerbaijan: the port of Sumgait;

· Georgia: the port of Poti.

· Ukraine: the Port of Ilyechevsk.

(All these ports have Railway connections.)

Main components:

The Contractor must submit a report, following the requirements listed hereunder:

A � Regarding regulations on the transport of dangerous goods

- to study safety norms and their correspondence to international standards for dangerous and explosive goods transportation;

- to review the present state of legislation regarding the transport of dangerous goods on a country by country basis

- to recommend harmonized legislation and procedures taking into account UN and European practice

- to recommend the adoption of technical annexes to the Basic Agreement that will enforce the implementation of harmonized legislation and practice

B � Regarding specific infrastructure for the transport of LPG

- to produce preliminary project study and its justification, with possible location of future termi-nals and appropriate infrastructure, following safety guides of LPG storage and transportation;

- to study the existing routes for transporting LPG from Kazakhstan and provide a traffic fore-cast through the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea coast of Georgia as well as to Ilyechevsk.

- to view environmental matters in the Caspian (Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan) and Black Sea (Geor-gia, Ukraine) regions during LPG transportation;

Project Duration : 12 months.

Project Budget : € 1 500,000


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1.20.3 3 - Central Asia Border Crossing Improvement

Recipients:

Customs Authorities of TRACECA Central Asia Countries

TRACECA National Commissions.


The transport and communications infrastructure in the Central Asian Republics was developed as part of the large, inward looking Soviet transport system. From the standpoint of Central Asia, the sys-tem was designed to facilitate relations and domestic trade with the northern and European part of the FSU. Trade links to the South and East were quite minimal, and there were no customs controls at internal border crossings.

Since the breakdown of the soviet system, outmoded customs procedures and the lack of technical facilities in most central Asian border posts put obstacles in the way of the free transportation of goods in the region; this is still the case, including of course at the border of Afghanistan.

TRACECA has already completed projects and plans others to improve this situation. These initiatives include the completed Trade Facilitation project, the establishment of the TRACECA Intergovernmen-tal Commission for the Implementation of the Basic Multi-Lateral Agreement (IGC-TRACECA), the �Harmonisation of Border Crossing Procedures� project and the current pilot project �Central Asian Road Brooder Crossing�.

It would in fact be technically logical to extend the computerisation of the border crossing procedures as widely as possible. Software systems developed and implemented by certain EU member states, by UNCTAD, and by the IRU all allow integration.

No beneficiary country to date has declared and held to a strong commitment to implement an interna-tional off-the-shelf software product for customs system management such as ASYCUDA or SOFIX. Plans for regional integration are still more limited.

Physical infrastructure at the relatively new border crossings is of varied quality. Typically the existing facilities have been adapted from other uses, or hastily constructed. An exception is Uzbekistan, where quite substantial works have been carried out to establish some border posts.

Presently delays at border crossings and inland clearance terminals for road carriers can be long. Such delays threaten to eliminate the time gains achieved by improved road infrastructure. Telecom-munications links at border crossings are mostly weak, particularly for supporting data interchanges. These impacts on the efficiency of all customs procedures and roles. A lack of equipment and in par-ticular automated data processing equipment at the border crossings, the inland regional centre, and the central customs agencies, aggravates the problem.

The general objectives of this project will be to:

· Promote regional and inter-regional commercial interchange

· Meet demands of the European Union and of other donors in the sphere of humanitarian goods supply facilitation for Afghanistan

· Improve the conditions for transport on the most heavily trafficked section of the TRACECA corridor, in Central Asia, concentrating on border crossing facilities and associated inland functions.

Specific objectives will be to:


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· Extend and facilitate the implementation of the expected recommendations of the �Central Asian Road Border Crossing�

· Investigate the specific problems of railways border crossings and recommend adaptations

· Design of a flexible, regionally integrated, modular system for eventual full automation of the beneficiary customs services

· Establish schematic and detailed design and specification of pilot modules for implementation within the project

· Provide, install and commission the necessary IT and telecommunications equipment to im-plement the pilot system

· Provide basic enforcement equipment such as drugs kits and infra-red document control de-vices

· Training, and maintenance of the system

Main components:

Review and evaluation of the recommendations and assessments of the Pilot Project �Central Asia Road Border Crossing�.

The project will comprise three phases :

Phase A- Review and Evaluation :

· Identification of the involved border posts

· Implementation of the recommendations of the �Border crossings� pilot project

· Extension and adaptation of recommendations to the railways

· Evaluation of the training needs

Phase B � Identification and Supply Equipment:

· Supply of required electronic and other equipment for border posts

· Supply of telecom links between brooder posts and central information systems

· Supply of relevant software

Phase C- Training for customs personnel:

· Design of training programs

· Identification and selection of personnel attending the training courses

· Organization and supply of training courses.

Project Duration: 24 months.

Project budget : € 3 000 000


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1.20.4 4 - Improvement of training facilities, equipment system and training of seafarers

in the State Maritime Academies and Maritime Administrations according to technical guidelines and training programs of Conventions, resolutions and recommendation of International Maritime Organi-zation (IMO).

Final Recipients:

Maritime Administrations and State Maritime Academies of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan Turk-menistan and Ukraine.

Justification and Objectives:

One of the objectives of the TRACECA Basic Agreement is to ensure traffic safety, security of goods and environmental protection. This objective, with regard to maritime transport, could be achieved only if the ships are to be manned and operated by highly qualified and trained crews.

The shipping industry has undergone an unprecedented technological revolution during the last quar-ter of the last century. Today's ships are highly automated with complex and sophisticated equipment on board. Many of these ships carry hazardous and noxious cargoes.

During its existence, IMO has developed a well-coordinated regime of technical standards, rules, regu-lations and codes of practices to ensure the safe and efficient operation of different types of ships and the prevention of vessel-source marine pollution.

However, the adoption of globally applicable standards, rules and regulations is only the first step. The next step is to promote their effective implementation by those who control, manage or operate differ-ent types of ships. For this purpose, highly trained and skilled personnel are required, both afloat and ashore. In addition to basic maritime training, specialized training is required for the management and operation of different types of ships.

As the only specialized agency of the UN system dedicated to maritime affairs, IMO has the responsi-bility to assist the countries in their endeavours to develop their own human resources in the Maritime sector. Accordingly IMO has developed and implemented a series of training programmes to enable the countries to train their own nationals in various maritime disciplines according to global standards. Through well-trained nationals, the developing countries are gradually acquiring the capability to com-ply with IMO conventions and protocols, and they are becoming increasingly self- reliant.

One of the major problems facing all developing countries and those in transition is the lack of provi-sion of modern training facilities for the cadets and officers of the maritime training centres. The provi-sion of training equipment is crucial for the development of the maritime training centres. Without this equipment these countries cannot attain the standards of training required by the relevant IMO con-ventions.

Main Components

The project should include the following activities, training courses and study tours:


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Elaboration of training programs in accordance with requirements of conventions, resolutions and rec-ommendation of International Maritime Organization (IMO) for maritime institutions.

Provide Maritime Institions with full set of training facilities equipment of Conventions and other IMO documents, including itheir electronic versions, as well as new maritime text-books.

Based on the result of the identification of training needs, tailor made training courses to be held on site and in Europe.

For Key � experts, study tours have to be organised to demonstrate that the proposal made and the subjects discussed are reality in the Western European Transportation World.

Special attention have to be given to IMO recommendations. In this respect and in connection with the used transport documents, the liability of the transport organisation involved have to be identified, based on existing laws and the way of improvement (insurance) to be described.

The training should be done in adequate sized groups of participants.

Training-material is to be developed prior to the seminar/training courses

Each training course/seminar should have a documentation which includes at a minimum the feed-back and recommendations from the participants.

Project Budget: € 2 000 000

Implementation timetable: 18 months.


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1.20.5 5 - Feasibility Study For Forming Free Trade Zones In Traceca Ports.

Final Recipients:

Maritime and Port Administrations,

Ministries of Transport or Cabinet of Ministers of Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Azer-baijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan


Nowadays, since the international trade is becoming rapidly globalise and more complicated, the for-eign trade policies which are undertaken by States as well as the political instruments used in these economic policies are of growing significance. From historical point of view, the establishment of free zones has had a quite long history. As time went by and the customs walls and state boundaries were created, in trade colonies which had been established near main commercial routes which had led to the big manufacturing centres, the establishment of the free zones had been announced in order not to lose existing in those days trade volume and not to lose the profits connected with it. They had been left beyond customs boundaries.

The free trade zones (FTZ) are called "the zones for manufacturing of export products" in de-veloping countries, but in developed countries they are called "the free trade zones" where trade pre-dominates. The zones were established in order that the employment opportunities and trade volume could be increased in the least developed regions of a country.

The free trade zones that nowadays have achieved great success, have been changed from their classical application into specialization. The manufacturing of advanced technological products began to play leading role in them, and thus they started to become technology centres.

The purpose of creation of special trade zones in ports of Aktau, Baku, Turkmenbashi, Poti, Batumi, Ilyichevsk, Samsun, Trabzon, Burgas, Konstanca, Varna is a maximum effective utilization of ports for the accelerated wide involving of republics of CIS in global trade for maintenance of steady growth and increase of competitiveness of economy.

The creation of FTZ is predetermined by a unique geographical position of regions, situated on a joint of transport routes in various directions between West and East, North and South.

The purposes of creation of free trade zones are, as follows:

- To increase both the foreign investments as well as the foreign trade volume,

- To enable the local manufacturers to obtain raw materials at international prices in order to increase their competitiveness in international markets,

- To encourage exports and trans-shipment (to support the industries producing export goods),

- To increase an influx of foreign currency,

- To reduce unemployment through creating new jobs,


75

- To raise as quickly as possible the economic standards and to enable the technologically advanced production and management techniques to be imported from abroad.

Main components:

The project should be considered as a regional economic development program.

The project will have to evaluate:

- Legal framework of each TRACECA country involved.

- Possible location of the FTZs including technical evaluation.

- Relevant Partner groups

For the possible establishment of each FTZ, an Economic and financial feasibility study should be carry out by the project.

The expected results of the project are:

· Training and study tour for the relevant Partner groups.

· Legislative bases and legal models of laws for creation of free trade zones in ports.

· Draft of amendment of legal standards as an annex to the TRACECA Multi-lateral Agreement.

· Preparation of the final design plan for creation of free trade zones in ports.

· Establishment of three or four pilot projects.


Project Budget : € 2 000 000


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1.20.6 6 - Technical and Economic Feasibility Studies for the rehabilitationof the railway lines :

Jalal-Abad � Kara �Suu � Andijan (79km), Osh � Kara Suu � Andijan(72 km), Lugovaya � Bishkek � Balikchi (322 km), Aktau- Beyneu - Kungrad

Final recipients

State Directorate on railroads design and construction (Kyrgyz Republic)

Railway Departments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

Justification and objectives :

International Financial institutions (IFIs) are currently attending seriously to the investments of trans-port sectors in the Central Asian region. Uzbekistan�s railways are rehabilitating railway track of the line of Tashkent � Samarkand out of the credits of the Asian Development Bank. Second part of the rehabilitation project is the railway line Samarkand � Bukhara. This Project of rehabilitation of the tracks is at the implementation phase also funded out of the credit of the Asian Development Bank and a project for purchase of electric locomotives for the Uzbek Railways is performed out of credits from the EBRD.

Current situation of the railway tracks on the Central Asian railways is considered as unsatisfactory. It is necessary to prevent accident and to increase the traffic speed .

The Existing railway lines Jalal-Abad � Kara-Suu � Andijan (79km) and Osh � Kara-Suu � Andijan (72km) have been built on the territory of two countries � Kirghiz Republic and the Republic of Uzbeki-stan. These are potentially the integral part of the Chinese-Kirghiz-Uzbek trunk-railway.

These railway lines have been built in the populated and agricultural regions with a great number of artificial constructions (overpasses, bridges, water-disposal lines, etc.) which also need to be rehabili-tated. The implementation of this for the rehabilitation project including the communication and signal-ing systems will allow to increase the transportation capacity of the areas mentioned above.

In 1999-2000 the Asian Development Bank experts examined the existing situation on the railway line of Lugovaya � Bishkek � Balikchi and came to a conclusion on the necessity of its improvement due to the unsatisfactory conditions of tracks. The refurbishment should include major repairs of the track and purchase of tools and equipment for the tracks maintenance. In the future prospect this line will become an integral part of the international trunk-railway Lugovaya � Bishkek � Kara-Keche � Toru-gart � Kashgar (CPR).

On the 6th September, 2001 the railway ferry berth in the port of Aktau was commissioned and regular voyages started between the ports of Aktau and Baku. Due to this fact flows of railway traffic will be strongly increasing. Major repairs of the track�s area should be performed for the purpose of increas-ing its transportation capacity.

The objectives of these projects are the preparation of Technical and Economic Justifications to sup-port and to attract the investments for :

Rehabilitation of railway lines in Kirghizstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for the purpose of increasing transportation capacities of these areas:


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Main components :

The project will carry out Technical and Economic Feasibility Studies for the rehabilitation and con-struction of new railways in accordance with the aforementioned projects. Pursuant to the Technical and Economic Justification data there will be prepared the loan applications to the lending banks for the allocation of investments to implement the projects.

The project would include the following actions, not necessarily in the sequence given:

· Review the previous studies carried out by local design institutes and the previous TRACECA studies.

· Develop more detailed topographic maps of the region traversed, by aerial/satellite photo-graph techniques, and field survey of key points.

· Carry out geo-technical and hydrological investigations of the routes

· Review existing geo-technical plans, carry out a detailed field surface survey, collect, test and categorise centre line samples. Prepare a geological plan of the terrain traversed.

· Investigate the seismological characteristics of the zones traversed and the implications for the project in terms of cost to maintain acceptable security of the lines.

· Surface site investigate all tunnel sites, site investigate all potential snow avalanche and flood hazards

· Surface site investigate all locations of substantial bridges (eg.greater than 25m spans)

· Design and specify a plan for sub-surface investigations (eg.trenching, drilling, testing etc.) for all civil and structural works. Design and specify a detailed hydrological survey. Estimate the costs of such surveys.

· Optimise the proposed alignments for minimum cost of construction.

· Provide typical details of design elements, including typical cross sections for divers terrains and conditions, protection works, river trainings, snow drifting protection, a standard bridge and culvert type, etc

· Propose the operational characteristics of the rail links to be created. Optimise the project characteristics for such aspects as single or double track, and whether the line should be electrified.

· Develop detailed cost estimates of the optimal works, and three options. It is to be expected that optimal implies minimum construction costs of a single, non-electrified line, with fairly low-speed/low-capacity operating characteristics, but other options should be investigated, to be sure that the most financially viable project is proposed.

· Carry out a traffic study using varied methodologies and macro-scenarios

· Refresh and expand on the existing demand study, which uses a fairly standard economic step model dependent on macro-economic extrapolations

· Carry out a social impact analysis, and environmental impact analysis, using standard devel-opment bank guidelines.

· Carry out economic and financial analysis using standard development bank and business criteria. Present detailed cash-flow spread sheets of project options over a thirty year operating hori-zon (ie. during the presumably phased construction period, and thirty years beyond).


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Project budget :

1. Technical and Economic Justification for the rehabilitation of the lines

Jalal-Abad � Kara-Suu � Andijan (79 km), Osh � Kara-Suu � Andijan (72 km) and Lugovaya � Bishkek � Balikchi (322 km) �

€ 1 000,000

2. Technical and Economic Justification for the rehabilitation of the railway line Aktau � Beyneu � Kungrad

€ 1 000,000

This Study will include identification and specifications of scanning equipment for Kazakh-Chineese border crossing in Station of Druzhba.

Total Budget: € 2 000 000

Project Period: 24 months


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1.20.7 7 - Feasibility Study On Establishing A Rail-Sea Combined Transport Link Be-tween Ports

Ports Of Samsun, Batumi, Varna, Burgas, Constantza, Illichyevsk, Including Construction Of A Bogie Exchange Station In Samsun Port.

Final Recipients:

Ministries of Transport of Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine.


Black Sea provides a maritime lifeline for the 87 million people living in the bordering countries. The Sea is playing an increasingly important role in the international shipping. The rich diversity of shipping interests, from row materials, port and technical activity, ship owning, ship agency, bunkering and ship repair, all contribute to the growing shipping interest.

The rail ferry services were organised across the Black Sea at the end of the seventies. Rail Ferry terminals in Russian gauge were built in Illiychevk (Ukraine) and Varna (Bulgaria) , four train ferry-boats serving this connection till the collapse of the former Soviet Union. In same time Rail Ferry Ter-minals in European gauge were built in Constantza (Romania) and Samsun (Turkey), two Romanian train ferryboats ensured this connection between 1986 and 1994. Following the collapse of the former Soviet Union and the reorganisation of the shipping across the Black Sea, the ferry connections were drastically reduced till 1996. However, since 1998, after the building of the new Rail ferry terminal in Russian gauge in Poti Port (TRACECA Project), ferry connections were reorganised between Illiy-chevsk and Poti, Poti and Varna and Illiychevk and Varna. Three ships per week now call the ferry terminals. The cargo turnover between these three ports totalled 2 million tonnes per year.

In 1999, the Republic of Romania and Georgia expressed their wish to open a rail ferry connection between the ports of Constantza and Batumi. The Rail ferry terminal of Batumi will be converted to European Gauge and a transhipment station will be organised in 2003.

In 2001, the Ministry of Transport of Turkey expressed their wish to rehabilitate the ferry terminal of Samsun and to build a new ferry terminal in Russian gauge in view to open ferry connections with Varna, Poti and Illiychevsk.

The port of Samsun is located in the north of Turkey at the Black Sea. It has a turnover of about 1,3 million tonnes. The port is operated by the Turkish railways, and is the only port in Northern Turkey having a rail connection. One of the berths is equipped with a rail ferry ramp with European gauge track. However, the ramp is in bad condition and has only one track (compared to five tracks in Poti and Batumi). It was used for the ferry line Constantza-Samsun mentioned above, but technical prob-lems with the ramp and its low capacity contributed to the cessation of the service.

The project is aiming to provide a better railway-sea combined transport (railway ferry transport) be-tween Samsun Port and other TRACECA countries located on Black Sea coast, and hence to set up commercial links especially between Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and other TRACECA countries to which there is no direct rail link from Turkey at present. On the other hand, in order to provide an efficient transport infrastructure for the movement of freight between and among the countries located within the TRACECA corridor via Turkey, it is necessary to establish an infrastructure for combined land and sea transport. In this regard, considering the different track gauge (1435 mm in Turkey and 1520 mm in CIS countries), there is an urgent need for a feasibility study on the rail and sea combined transport link between ports of Turkey ( Samsun) and ports of Georgia (Ba-tumi and Poti), Varna (Bulgaria) and Illiychevsk (Ukraine), before making a decision on the construc-tion of bogie exchange station in the port of Samsun.


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Main components:

The feasibility study shall initially focus on the possibility of establishing a rail-sea combined transport between Port of Samsun and ports of Batumi, Poti, Varna, Burgas, Constantza, Illyichevsk and then based on the output of this feasibility study the exact work items to be carried out will be defined, e.g. Preparation of the final design and tendering documents for construction of bogie exchange facilities in Port of Samsun.

The project will comprise two phases:

Phase 1/ Economic and Technical Feasibility Study

Economic and Technical evaluation of the possible rail ferry connections linking Port of Samsun with other TRACECA Black Sea ports. This Feasibility study will include traffic analyses and traffic forecast for each connection as well as costs analyses and possible port infrastructure development.

Phase 2 / Economic and Financial Feasibility Study - Technical Specifications

Based on the results of the phase 1, the project will define the rehabilitation/construction work required

(Rehabilitation of the existing facilities, construction of a new ferry ramp, organisation of a tranship-ment station, reorganisation of railway connection) and will prepare all documentation for this invest-ment including:

- Economic and financial analyses.

- Design and Technical Specifications.

- Environmental assessment.


Project Budget : 1 500 000 €


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1.20.8 8 - Financing Of Construction Of The Second Poylu Railway Bridge Through The Kura River.

Final recipient :

Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.

State Railways of Azerbaijan.

Justifications and Objectives :

The railway corridor from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea, as part of the TRACECA Corridor is con-structed as an electrified double track line. Its lenght in Azerbaijan territory is 487 km. In Azerbaijan, the double track is only interrupted by a single track section on the bridge of Poylu, situated at 26 km to the Georgian border.

This project will deal with the construction of the second railway bridge through the Kura river in the area of Salogli-Poylu . This passage is the most vital strategic transport connecting-link within the TRACECA Corridor connecting Europe with Asia. Since 1993

Given flows of traffic are increasing regularly since 1993 ( 300 000 Tons in 1993 � 8 Million Tons in 2000 ) there arise certain difficulties in trains traffic arrangement within border crossing with Georgia. Its carrying capacity is not entirely used and this bottleneck restrict drastically the railway traffic be-tween Azerbaijan and Georgia

Traffic forecast of previous TRACECA Study on this section is showing an expected traffic of 10 mil-lion Tons for 2004 and 12 million Tons for 2006. The main products transported are crude oil and oil products (75% of the traffic) from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. All of these three coun-tries has declared officially their wish to increase their export of crude oil and oil products in the com-ing years. For Kazakhstan, the current volume of 3.2 million tons/year will reach 4.5 million in 2004 and the traffic forecast for Turkmenistan is about 500 000 tons for 2002.

Therefore construction of a new railway bridge has been recommended. At present financing of the construction should be organised under the most favourable conditions for Azerbaijan and all the countries within the corridor Europe-Asia.

The Technical and Economic Feasibility Studies includes the economic and financial analysis will be issued by the State Railways of Azerbaijan. Final design and technical documentation will be provided by the institute of the State Railway of Azerbaijan.

This project objective is to advance the planning of a new bridge construction.

The project result will be the construction of the second railway bridge of POYLU. The construction of the railway access and the connections with the existing tracks will be realised simultaneously by the Railways Department of Azerbaijan.


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The cost estimate for the construction of the bridge, including access and railway material is

4 million USD. The cost of the bridge is estimated around 2 000 000 Euro.

Main Components :

The project is considering the construction of the second railway bridge of POYLU in Azerbaijan, close to the Georgian border. Access, railway material and equipment will be furnished and installed by the State Railway Department of Azerbaijan.

Technical Description of the bridge :

· Total bridge length / 212 meters.

· Average bridge height / 8.5 meters.

· Bridge width / 6 meters.

· Four piers / concrete

· Embankments / concrete

· Two concrete spans / 13 meters each

· One concrete span / 26 meters

· Two spans ( metallic structure ) / 70 meters + 90 meters

Project budget : € 2 000 000

Project Duration : 12 months


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1.20.9 9 - FIATA Freight Forwarders Training

Final Recipients:

Ministries of Transport and/or Cabinet of Ministers, and National FIATA Associations/Organisations of TRACECA countries.


Especially the TRACECA states of the former Soviet Union are now expanding trade links with new international partners, including the European Union. This growth in diversity of trading links is healthy and will contribute to the overall economic growth of the region. However, in past days of central plan-ning within the CIS countries, TRACECA states of the former Soviet Union were not themselves deeply involved in international transport documentation of common use in international trade in the western world. This unfamiliarity leads to poor design of documents, slow processing, and sometimes to fundamental misconception of the role of the documentation and their use..

Previous TRACECA projects have addressed this issue. In particular the Trade Facilitation and Freight Forwarding projects proposed streamlined processes for international trade and transport documenta-tion, based on the so-called Single Administrative Document or SAD. It also brought the international freight forwarding association, FIATA into contact with the beneficiary states. As a direct result, sev-eral of them have formed national freight forwarders associations, which have attained ordinary mem-bership of FIATA.

The freight forwarding industry is very young in the region of the CIS countries. Professional help is needed to learn fast how to run the transport industry and there is a continuing need for further training for the full harmonisation with western practice.

The regulatory framework of the freight forwarding and transport industry within the region is not uni-form and it is not always clear which laws and decrees are applicable.

FIATA has a training programme adapted to the transition economies, and the objective of this project is to make such specialist training available to the regions freight forwarders. Parallel to this, the transport industry itself will be encouraged to promote any necessary changes in the broader issue of regulation and access to the profession, as well as the adoption and usage of transport documenta-tion.

Main components

Initially the current regulatory framework within the TRACECA States in regard Transport is to be investigated state by state. The principal output from this investigation should be:

· the highlighting of anomalies, contradictions, monopolies, restrictive practices, regulatory vac-uums, documents to be ued, etc. Recommendation are to be given if local laws and decrees are to be adapted and about the influence of this to the transport industry.

This will be done on a state-by-state basis, but in principle all states will be encouraged to adopt a common model regulatory framework proposed by the project.


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· the identification of the national bodies in each state with which the project is to collaborate. In certain cases this is clearly the FIATA association. In others cases without FIATA association an ad-hoc grouping of forwarders could be the interlocutor, pending the emergence of a valid national asso-ciation.

In those states without a recognised FIATA association, encouragement and assistance will be given to the foundation. The project will then provide a series of intensive seminars on the FIATA recom-mended processes for management and day-to-day practice in the freight forwarding industry. Full documentation and manual for practitioners will be provided. This will include the standard terms of trade, waybills, contracts for carriage and insurance, and customs procedures.


Project Budget € 2 000 000


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1.20.10 10 - Study on the shipping line with an accent on the ferry links, being a major part of TRACECA corridor.

Turning the ports of Varna, Bourgas, Constantza and Ilyichevsk into logistics centers of TRACECA corridor with their further integration into the European logistics centers network

Final Recipient:

Ministry of Transport and Communications of Bulgaria, Executive Agency �Maritime Administration� and Executive Agency �Port Administration�, maritime ports of Varna and Bourgas

Ministry of Public Works of Romania, Transport and Housing, Port Administration, Port of Constantza

Ministry of Transport of Ukraine, Port of Ilyichevsk.

Ministry of Transport and Communications, Maritime Administrations and Port Administration of Geor-gia.


The objective of the Basic Multilateral Agreement for International Transport for Development of the Europe-Caucasus-Asia corridor is to increase the competitiveness and attractiveness of this route, through introducing the most favourable possible conditions for freight transiting.

This could be achieved only after a detailed research of all transport corridor ingredient parts through collecting data on the actual condition of the researched component with a following analysis of the data, outlining the problematic bottle necks and elaborating proposals for them to be solved.

The maritime sections of TRACECA, including the railway ferry and Ro-Ro lines, as well as the ports as basic compound elements of Europe-Caucasus-Asia corridor, have not been up to now subject to a study of their significance for the effectiveness of the corridor as a whole.

The freight transportation scheme through Europe-Caucasus-Asia corridor encompasses also mari-time transport and the related operations. This and the unnecessary incurred expenses, coming from the unreasonably high port fees and maritime freight-forwarding charges in the region (especially those related to railway ferry and Ro-Ro lines) are the reason for the higher final transportation cost compared to the transportation price of the alternative land corridors.

The project aims at a comprehensive study of the maritime freight, the type and size of port fees and finally at a justified proposal, on the basis of which a series of more rational commercial schemes for calculating to be created.

The project also aims at assisting maritime shipping companies and ports to implement successful market research policy in the situation of lower tariffs aiming at raising the effectiveness of work and achieving optimal indices.

The practical way to assist the Black-sea ports to increase their commercial competitiveness and at-tractiveness as per time and cost indices, is by turning the ports of Varna, Bourgas, Constantza and Ilyichevsk into logistics centers of TRACECA corridor with their further integration into the European logistics centers network.

The submitted project proposal conforms to one of TRACECA program objectives- the Pan-European networks.


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The location of the ports stated, as well as the short term and long term plans for their development, the staff potential and the expressed desire are a good basis for realizing the project. In order the pro-ject to be realized a plan on the stages for granting technical assistance is to be drawn up.

There are direct road and railway links to the port of Bourgas with Pan-European corridor N 8. The active Ro-Ro line Bourgas-Poti serves the road freight carriage in the Europe-Caucasus-Asia direc-tion.

The location and development of port of Varna make it a key distributive centre connecting Pan-European corridor N 8 with TRACECA corridor and an initial point of the ferry line Varna Ilyichevsk-Poti/Batumi. A railway line where special preferential rates of the tariff in force are applied links of the port of Varna with the river Danube port of Rousse, and from there with Pan-European Transport Cor-ridor N 7.

The strategic location of the Romanian port Constantza makes it a crucial station of the logistics chain, ensuring the connection between Pan-European transport corridors N 4 and 7 with TRACECA corri-dor.

The Ukrainian Black-sea port Ilyichevsk is a very important connecting centre of Pan-European corri-dor N9 and TRACECA corridor, as well as a substantial part from the ferry line Varna Ilyichevsk-Poti/Batumi.

Expected final results of this project:

- A more transparent tariffs and transit fees structure applied in maritime sections of TRACECA corridor will be accomplished, which will finally result in predictable transport prices on this route.

- Illegal and non-physical barriers for transport services shall be removed, which will ensure customers confidence and will increase the attractiveness of the route.

- The Black-sea ports capacities as stations for forming; accumulating, depositing, redistribut-ing, forwarding and receiving freights will be used maximum effectively. Further on these ports will be converted into centres offering optimal logistics schemes and more effective use of the ferry lines and the combined transport to the carriers.

Main Components:

- Provision of technical assistance for study of the actual maritime transport condition to the Black-sea and Caspian-sea TRACECA program participant countries. In order the task to be fulfilled; firstly statistical data is to be collected by the Technical expert�s team to the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA with assistance provided by the National Secretaries.

Secondly, the situation is to be studied on the spot, the data collected summarized and relevant pro-posals and recommendations prepared. This task is to be fulfilled by the Consultant using budgetary funds.

- Technical assistance to the maritime shipping companies and ports for successful

Marketing research in conditions of balanced tariff policy aiming at raising the commercial competi-tiveness of TRACECA route maritime sections. Assistance from the Consultant is necessary for the fulfilment of this task. Opportunities could be envisaged for training courses and/or marketing speciali-zation and acquaintance to foreign experience using project budgetary funds.

- Technical assistance for converting ports Varna, Bourgas, Constantza and Ilyichevsk into lo-gistics centres of TRACECA corridor with further integration to the net of the European logistics cen-tres. Using the project budgetary funds, a system is to be created connecting these ports with analo-gous logistics centres in other European countries; office equipment and the work of the on different places are to be provided. Port Administrations shall provide premises and experts and shell assist the Consultant.

- Monitoring the fulfilment of the recommendations and spending of the funds.


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The project shall present:

- Implementation plan;

- Collecting information for maritime freight size and port fees and service tariffs types and size in the Black-sea and Caspian-sea ports;

- Analysis of the data summarized and recommendations for pursuing more balanced tariff pol-icy;

- Creating a database and publishing it in the TRACECA web-site with a following periodical updating;

- Research on the spot (in each port) aiming at elaborating analysis for the possible logistics centres functional specialization;

- Determining necessities;

- Providing the needed equipment and software;

- Creating electronic connection;

- Training of experts.

Project budget: 2 000 000 EURO

Duration of the project: 24 months


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1.20.11 11 - (Border Crossing between Moladova and Ukraine / To be define )

The project will be identified within TRACECA Project �Feasibility Study for the improvement of the road and rail border crossings between Moldova and Ukraine� ( TRACECA Project 2001 )


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1.20.12 12 - Equipment Of Check-Point At The Multimodal Terminal Of Illyichevsk (Ukraine) And Poti (Georgia) Port.

Final Recipients:

Commercial Sea Port of Illyichevsk (Ukraine)

Port of Poti (Georgia)

State Customs Department of Ukraine

State Customs Department of Georgia


The realisation of the Tacis TRACECA Projects on construction of the rail fery terminal in the port of Poti/Georgia, and the rehabilitation and development of the ferry terminal in Illyichevsk/Ukraine the traffic has increased steadily the traffic on the TRACECA Corridor

(1 million Tons/year). In addition, the rail ferry services on the Black Sea are meanwhile including also services from Varna / Bulgaria to the ports of Poti and Batumi. This link crossing the Black Sea is one of the basic elements of the TRACECA Corridor.

The Realisation of the above mentioned projects of the Tacis-TRACECA programme in Ilyichevsk in 1998-2000 (Project TNREG 9751) has created conditions for more effective service of the cargo traffic of container and passenger carriages on ferries. However, limits of funds and time have left some problems open. The increasing of the capacity of the ferry complex is the main factor of the further development of the cargo traffic on the link between Illyichevsk and Poti/Batumi. Difficulties in provid-ing safety for transport are requested. For example is the road access to the ferry ramp should allows to organise a two-way traffic and a parking area for waiting registration motor vehicles is also needed.

The connection of the ferry terminal complex to the road to Ilyichevsk-Odessa highway is inconven-ient, encumbers exit to the major highway, and according to the traffic regulations the entrance and exit with a left-hand turn constitutes a danger. Here a reconstruction is needed. Without solution of this problem the increasing of volume of the ferry carriages of road-trains with cargo is limited.

Taking into account, that nowadays the Port of Ilyichevsk is the main connecting point of the ТRАСЕСА corridor with the Trans-European Network (TEN-Corridor No.9) the speed-up of cargo trans-shipment through the Ferry Terminal , and the multi-modal terminal is of highest importance.

The considerable increase of cargo volume especially between Georgia and Ukraine indicates the importance of this link but the experiences in the day to day cargo operation have shown a lot of prob-lems with the effect of delays for vehicles and passengers in the terminal

The main one among these defects is complexity and duration of technology and work organisation at the border crossing checkpoint of non-admonition of the terminal, absence of necessary technical equipment for performance of control operations with purpose of narcotics, armaments and ammuni-tions transportation, and also non-admission of illegal emigration.

The ferry terminal is not equipped with necessary technical equipment for the passport control to avoid illegal emigration and to control cargo and persons in respect of transportation of narcotics, weapons and ammunition. Also the organisation of the work of custom and emigration officers is not optimal.


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The insufficient effectiveness of control and document execution procedures, causes long-term de-lays of trucks and containers with cargoes in the Port. This is in contradiction with planned increase of cargo turnover and will limit the in future enlarged capacities of the rail-way terminal.

The project aims are:

· Harmonisation of control mechanism and procedures for transport vehicles, cargoes and pas-sengers similar to the European countries. by increasing effectiveness and organisational effects at the border crossing checkpoint on the Ports of Illyichevsk multimodal terminal and Poti ferry terminal.

· Improvement of the technical equipment of the crossing checkpoint and supply of necessary additional equipment.

· Creation of favourable conditions for the development of ferry carriages of international road transport on ferry lines between Georgia and the Ukraine, Turkey and the Ukraine, opening of new competitive maritime lines.

· Eliminating penetration of narcotics, armaments, terrorist elements and illegal emigration from the TRACECA Transport routes

Main components:

· Rehabilitation of the access road to the multimodal terminal of the Port of Ilyichevsk with con-struction of a yard for multilane and two-way traffic of road vehicles before entrance\exit to\from the border crossing and customs check-point without intersection of the contrary flows

· Laying out of the connection of the access road from the multimodal terminal with the Ilyi-chevsk - Odessa highway with a road junction without intersection of the country traffic

· Equipment for the checkpoint of the multimodal terminal with additional modern, highly effec-tive and productive means of control to be used for check and execution of documents of passengers, luggage, road vehicles, railway wagons and cargoes.

· Equipment for service rooms of different state organizations which are carrying out the con-trol of passengers, luggage, road vehicles, railway wagons and cargoes crossing the Ukrainian border on the multimodal terminal of the port of Ilyichevsk which modern means of communication.

· Personal Computers, local network and electronic mail to equip and to connect the working places of control officers in the multimodal terminal working with the check and execution of docu-ments, parking yards, warehouses and border crossings.

· Practical training of representatives of border and customs services with procedures and methods of adequate control mechanism used in ports of the EU countries.

Project duration: 12 months.



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1.20.13 13 - Feasibility Study For Construction Of Highway Termez -Dushanbe-Jirgatal-Sari Tash

Final Recipients:

Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan

Ministry of Transport of Kyrgystan

State concern �Uzavtoyol�


Since the independence of the Central Asia Republics from the former Soviet-Union, the national economies have declined. As a result the road rehabilitation and maintenance has been neglected caused by budget shortages and in this region extensive road rehabilitation and improvement pro-grams are required. Several International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and other donors are planning major investments in road works for the Central Asia Republics. TRACECA has previously provided assistance in road maintenance management systems, support for institutional reform, economic analysis and technical studies, to facilitate the mobilisation of external investment.

The Republic of Tadjikistan is situated on the south-east of the Central Asia. The great part of the terri-tory of the country comprises mountains with extreme natural conditions. The most part of the roads through the difficult mountain areas are destroyed by floods and natural disasters and reconstruction and capital repair with the aim of bringing their technical parameters to satisfying standards are needed.

The difficulties with the export of production of mining and processing industry are considered to be the main obstacle of the economic development and effective use of existing resources. To provide reliable transport and safe traffic on roads between the republican centres and the regions the infra-structure has to be improved.

The construction of the highway Termez - Dushanbe � Sary-Tash will link Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan and Kyrgystan. It is to be expected, that this highway will stimulate the development of the industry, Agri-culture and mountain Tourism.

The main objective of the project is the preparation of a feasibility study and tender documents for the construction/upgrading of the road section Lyabijar-Karamyk, last part of the highway Termez - Dushanbe-Jirgatal-Kyrgyz border, which will be the continuation of the transport corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) and provide reliable and continuous transport facilities inside the country and with the neighbour countries.

Main Components

The project will issue the feasibility study for the construction of highway Termez - Dushanbe-Jirgatal-Sari Tash with:


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- Identification of transport and economic characteristics of the region including data collec-tion, analysis and up-dating of existing information files of the involved road agencies.

- Technical assessment of the infrastructure and operations including survey of factual strength of pavement, bridges with detailed test and identification of load capacity.

- Detailed topographical, hydrological and geo-technical surveys.

- Engineering design for improvement of the border post facilities (upgrading of access roads, reinforcement /doubling of bridges, extension/reorganisation of customs facilities).

- Assistance to the beneficiary in the negotiations with International Financing Institutions (IFIs).

- Detailed ecological investigations and environmental impact assessment;

- Preparation of bankable technical, economic and environmental feasibility studies, including full tender documents with designs and technical specifications;




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1.20.14 Technical Feasibility Studies Of The Railway Link Between:

§ Yerevan-Nakhichevan-Baku (Armenia �Azerbaijan)

§ Samtredia-Sukhumi-Sochi /Georgia (Abkhazia)

Final recipients :

Ministry of Transport and Communications and Railway Department of Armenia.

Cabinet of Ministers and Railway Department of Azerbaijan.

Ministry of Transport and Communications and Railway JSCie of Georgia


On September 7-8, 1998, delegations of 32 countries and 13 international organisations assembled in Baku for the International TRACECA Conference. Nine Presidents and several Prime Ministers, Minis-ters, Ambassadors and heads of delegation have discussed the importance of the TRACECA pro-gramme as the shortest way to integration into the international economic structures, as a guarantee of political and economic stability and also as a means to improve regional co-operation.

During this Conference, 12 countries :

Azerbaijan Republic Republic of Moldova

Republic of Armenia Romania

Republic of Bulgaria Republic of Tadjikistan

Georgia Turkish Republic

Republic of Kazakhstan Republic of Uzbekistan

Kyrghystan Republic Ukraine

signed a Multi-Lateral Agreement on International Transport in the transportation corridor Europe-Caucasus-Central Asia and four supplementary technical documents on customs, road, maritime and rail transport.

During his official speech, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia expressed the wish to re-open the rail link between the Republic of Armenia and Nakhitchevan.

The President of the Azerbaijan Republic underlined the importance of regional co-operation in the framework of the TRACECA programme

After the Baku Conference,

· referring to the Basic Multi-Lateral Agreement on International Transport for the Development of the Europe-Caucasus-Asia Corridor, signed in Baku on 8 September 1998,

· considering the significance of the European Commission�s initiative within the framework of the TRACECA programme, aimed at developing regional co-operation in the transport sector,

Both countries welcomed the intention of the European Commission to support the initiative to re-open the rail link between Yerevan-Djulfa-Baku, and requested a technical feasibility study of the railway link between the Republic of Armenia and the Azerbaijan Republic through Nakhitchevan.

In the aftermath of the well known Military conflict on the territory of Abkhazia (1992-1993) lots of the objects of the transport infrastructure were destroyed and became out of order. Mainly the railway bridges, railway track and signalling and telecommunication system of railway.


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Considering the goodwill from the parties during last years Georgian Government has the regular Working group meetings with the de facto Government of Abkhasia and one of the important item of these meetings is to find opportunity of rehabilitation of transport infrastructure.

Georgian Government express the support of European Commission to give the technical assistance for rehabilitation railway link station Inguri � station Vesoloye.

Rehabilitation of the above mentioned railway link allow TRACECA corridor in future to connect with port of Novorossisk which was chosen on 3rd Pan-European Transport Conference which was held in Helsinki in June 1997, as the one of the priority extension of 9th Crete corridor.

This project will :

· promote co-operation and stability in the Trans-Caucasus Region,

· enhance confidence and create goodwill, thus improving the existing relations between the Parties,

· allow in future Armenia to have a railway access to other countries and to become a railway transit country,

· allow in future Azerbaijan to use the rail link to Nakhitchevan through Armenia and to have a rail access to other countries.

· Allow in future Georgia to connect Central Europe by inland connection

Main components

This project therefore addresses two main issues :

· feasibility study for immediate rehabilitation, allowing re-opening of the rail link,

· pre-investment study to establish a detailed plan of investments required to guarantee railway operations.

The following tasks have to be executed :

· to carry out a detailed survey of the existing situation of the infrastructure (tracks, bridges, en-ergy supply, signaling, telecommunications, stations , etc.),

· to determine urgent repair work and to estimate its cost,

· to make traffic forecasts for future rail traffic for various scenarios,

· to define the required technical repair, upgrading and reconstruction work for various traffic volume scenarios,

· to make cost estimates for future investment and maintenance requirements

Project Budget : € 2 000 000

Project Duration : 12 months


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1.20.15 15 - Feasibility Study for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Road Kun-grad (Kazakhstan) / Beyneu (Uzbekistan)

Final Recipients:

- State joint-stock concern «Uzavtoyul» of Republic of Uzbekistan.

- Ministry of transport and communications of Republic of Kazakhstan.

- Road Committee of the Ministry of Transport and communications of Republic of Kazakhstan.


Transport corridor �Europe - the Caucasus - Asia� (TRACECA) plays an important role in the devel-opment of close cooperation in the sphere of stable operation of the transport network both in a sepa-rate country and between the countries on the whole.

The development and reconstruction of motor roads taking into account the vast territory of the Re-public and remoteness between the settlements are of strategic importance for the Republic of Ka-zakhstan.

The effective development of the TRACECA corridor will provide the roads safety along the main routes, increase transit potential which is significant for the economy of the Republic and positively influence on the settlement of socio-economic issues.

The Road �Kungrad � Beyneu� is the important component of the international transport corridor TRACECA. At the ministerial conference ESCAP, held in November, 2001, in Seoul the given corridor under the offer of Republic of Uzbekistan and Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA was included in the international system of highways UN.

The corridor �Kungrad � Beyneu� by the shortest route connects Central Asia and Caucasus, regions making a basis of the projects TRACECA. In accordance to that Uzbekistan, Republic of Kyrgyzstan and Peoples Republic of China have begun realization of freight transportation on a route of Tashkent � Andijan � Osh � Irkeshtam � Kashgar � Urumchi � Shanghai, the site Kungrad � Beyneu gets prior-ity of importance. On the one hand, opening of large deposits of petroleum and gas in the Republic of Karakalpakistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan, involving the large companies of USA, England, Canada, Peoples Republic of China, Japan for development of these areas gives a route the status of the greatest preference in questions of involving the foreign investments. It is necessary to note, that there are useful mineral stocks at the sum more then 30 trillion Us dollars located along the route of the highway �Kungrad � Beyneu� or in areas gravitating to it. And also large potential of the interna-tional transit requires rehabilitation and reconstruction of the highway.

After the high-mountainous highway Angren � Pap having been introduced into operation the prospect of the international transit became obvious and connects three areas of the Fergana valley with other parts of Republic of Uzbekistan on a shorter route. Besides, the concern �Uzavtoyul� in cooperation with the foreign companies is completing the project of the national highway Andijan � Tashkent � Nu-kus � Kungrad with total length 1500 km. The given project is of great interest to EBRD, ABD, and also other financial institutes. The project to give the status of chargeable road to a site Kungrad �Beyneu is being considered as well as.

In 1997 the project TRACECA �Services of motor transport of Central Asia� at the sum 850.000 EURO was completed. The initiatives on presentation of the region to the manufacturers of lorries of the countries of the EU were worked out. As a result in the region the companies such as �Mersedes Benz�, �Volvo�, �Scania�, �Iveco�, �Hunday� and others began to get stronger positions.


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In October, 1999 the project TRACECA �The maintenance of highways� was completed. The budget of the project has made 2.500.000 EURO. The experts of the project took part in the preparation of the feasibility report of the reconstruction of the highway Andijan � Osh � Irkeshtam - Kashgar. These and other projects, in particular project �The maintenance of highways� with the budget 700.000 EURO became a basis for the further development of the corridor TRACECA and inclusion in it of the site Kungrad � Beyneu.

The site of the highway Kungrad � Jaslik � Beyneu with length of 446 km is parallel with the railway route Chengeldi (Kazakhstan) � Tashkent (Uzbekistan) � Navoi � Uchkuduk � Misken � Nukus � Kun-grad � Jaslik (Uzbekistan) � Beyneu (Kazakhstan) which is located on the transport corridor TRACECA. From 446 km of the highway, only 130 km is a road by solid covering (Uzbekistan � 80 km, Kazakhstan � 50 km).

At the present time the volume of cargo auto transportation on the given site makes about 1,5 million tons per year. Under the forecasts of the analysts the given volume the coming years will tend the fur-ther growth.

To the effect of insurance of growing volume on the given route, the reconstruction of the highway Kungrad � Jaslik � Beyneu is necessary for maintenance of transportation, in view of construction of new roads with solid covering on sites with ground covering and insurance of a necessary infrastruc-ture along the highway. The feasibility report of the project of reconstruction and rehabilitation of the site of road Kungrad (Uzbekistan) � Beyneu (Kazakhstan), which is referred to consideration TRACECA will be required for immediate realization. The basis for this purpose is the Agreement be-tween state joint-stock concern �Uzavtoyul� and Ministry of transport and communications of Kazakh-stan about joint reconstruction and rehabilitation of the highway Kungrad � Beyneu and further on a corridor TRACECA.

Main Components

The basic component of the project is the preparation of the feasibility report of reconstruction and rehabilitation of the road Kungrad � Jaslik - Beyneu in the view below:

- identification of the transport and economic characteristic of region, including data and analysis existing the information;

- technical estimation of the condition of the road of existing infrastructure, including the review of actual durability of the road covering, bridges, and other technical structures with detailed tests by definition of loading;

- detailed topographical, hydrological and geotechnical review;

- improvement of an infrastructure on the border crossing points of transition;

- Detailed research of ecology and estimation of influence of activity of a motorway on an environ-ment;

- Assistance of the recipient during the search and negotiation by the potential investors.


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The project will presents:

- preparation of the project of the documents on reconstruction and rehabilitation of both road sec-tions.

- preparation of the project of the documents on qualification of the contractor and general structure of the tender documentation on construction;

- feasibility report for reconstruction and rehabilitation of both road sections.

Project Duration: 12 months.

Project Budget: € 1.500.000


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1.20.16 Rehabilitation Of The Border Crossing Railway Track Ayrum (Armenia)-Sadakhlo(Georgia)

and Supply Of Intermodal Equipment For The Container Terminal Of Gumry (Armenia).

Final Recipients:

Ministry of Transport of Armenia, Armenian Railways

Ministry of Transport and Communications of Georgia, Georgian Railways


Armenia has only one railway access operational today. This railway connection is linking Erevan to Tbilisi (380 km) through the border crossing of Ayrum (Armenia) and Sadakhlo (Georgia). This railway access is vital for the economy of Armenia and has a turn-over of 1.5 million Tons/year.

The stations of Ayrum and Sadakhlo straddle the Armenian-Georgian border on the only operational rail link into Armenia. The border lies 9 km from Sadakhlo in Georgia and 3 km from Ayrum in Arme-nia. The condition of the track on this section limits train speeds to 15km per hour. The normal speed is between 60km and 70km per hour.

Already in 1993 internal Armenian and Georgian railway reports cited problems in keeping up with track maintenance, which had led to reduce operating speeds, and unsafe operating conditions. In 1997 it was reported by outside consultants that 40% of the track between Tbilisi and Erevan needed replacement. Little has been done since, so that with usage, the condition of the track infrastructure has continued to decline. The general manifestations of problems are; loosened fixations of rails to sleepers, structural damage to the sleepers, fatigue and deformation of the rails, instability of the con-tact cable. These are especially evident between Ayrum and Sadakhlo (12 km). The solution is to re-lay the track, using new materials, on fresh ballast. The overhead contact cables for supply of electric current to the locomotives also require renewal.

The World Bank has been the principal other donor to the transport sector in Armenia. They have con-centrated up till now on roads infrastructure. However, their most recent project includes a significant component for railway track rehabilitation. They are presently allocating 13 MUSD for this item, to take care of 37km of track between Ayrum and Alaverdi. The overall track maintenance backlog of AR far exceeds this amount, and subsequent phases of track renewal of the World Bank programme are foreseen.

The EBRD is the principal other donor to the railway transport in Georgia. In 1999, EBRD allocated an USD 20 million loan to the Georgian Railways including rehabilitation of the main track Tbilisi-Black Sea. In addition, Georgian Railways has planned the rehabilitation of the track between Tbilisi and Sadakhlo in 2001.

A preceding TACIS/TRACECA investment project provided vital modern equipment for handling and distributing 40ft containers at the main Armenian container terminal at Karmir Belur, near Erevan. Such categories of equipment were completely lacking before. Also, a technical assistance project set up a logistic chain for inter-modal traffic, and provided some inter-modal management training. These initiatives have generated increased commercial traffic, such as a regular flow of �tank containers� ex-porting wholesale fruit juice to Europe, and some transit freight between the Black Sea and Iran.

The potential to further expand such traffic remains, and indeed across the world containerisation of freight traffic is still growing. The trans-Caucasus route has seen a constant increase in the volume of containers handled in recent years. There are firm plans to improve the capacity and speed of con-tainer handling at the Port of Poti, which is a key transit point for container traffic destined to, or from, Armenia. Improvements to facilities at Port Batumi should also facilitate traffic to Armenia. Longer term, there is the prospect of re-opening the Gumri-Kars rail link, from Armenia to Turkey. Gumri is the second largest city in Armenia, after Erevan. Gumri could thus become an important national distribu-


99

tion and modal transfer point. At present, the Gumry region is an extended distance for transport by road, for containers off-loaded at Karmir Belur and destined there. In general, increasing the national capacity to handle container traffic, will better adapt Armenia to world standards of freight transport logistics.

Main Components

1. The principal components of the project of Rehabilitation of the border crossing railway track Ayrum-Sadakhlo would be to provide track renewal materials including:

· R65 Rails (132 tonnes/km)

· Wooden sleepers (1850/km)

· Fixations (30 tonnes/km)

· Bolts (7 tonnes/km)

· Other track accessories (3.6 tonnes/km)

· Cable supporters (30/km)

· Contact line & Voltage stabilisers (1km/km)

Indicative gross prices for these supplies are 125 000 €/ km of track rehabilitated.

The AR will lay the track themselves on their side of the border, on new ballast to be supplied by them, from their own quarry.

2. The final list for supply of intermodal equipment for the container terminal of Gumry is to be decided after detailed discussions with the beneficiaries. Essentially, it will include sufficient equipment to set up a second national intermodal terminal and logistics centre at Gumry. Typically this would comprise:

1 no. Reach stacker

2 no. Forklift trucks for container and wagon stuffing

2 no. Skeletal trailer chassis for 40ft containers

2 no. PC for terminal management

Implementation timetable 12 months

Project Budget

Intermodal equipment € 500 000

Track rehabilitation materials € 1 500 000

Total Budget € 2 000 000


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1.21 Structure of the web sites

(Folders in alphabetic list) TRACECA website · counthtm : all the HTML pages about countries · coserv : pdf files - one for each country � country overview · esbook : files of the book of E. Shevarnadze · images : all gif and jpg filesof photos, logos, flags, icones · frames*.* : gif files of the menu of the contents.html pages (to be checked) · aktauter : photos of the Aktu terminal · bakuport : photos of the Baku port · borderp : photos of the border AZ/GE · bukhara : photos of the container terminal for cotton of Bukhara · cont : copy of the frame*.* folder · flags : various flags and logos · inaugbaloff : photos of the Baku Office inauguration · nav : navigation icones · potiport : photos of the Poti port · ppoylu : photos of the Poylu bridge · ptauz : photos of the Tauz bridge · rehabcr : photos of the first IP RW TRACECA in Caucasia · tbridge : photos of the TRACECA bridge in Georgia · imahtm : all the HTML/photo pages · iphtm : all pages about investment projects · iprep : pdf files of all the reports of investment projects · maps : pdf, gif and jpg files of all maps · marco : pdf files of Marco Polo Magazine�s articles + logo · mla : pdf files of the documents of the Baku conference + speeches of participant · profile :

·sphtm : HTML pages giving access to pdf files of the reports of technical assistance sliced in several parts because they too big for an easy download

· sprep : splitted PDF files of the reports of technical assitance · tarep : PDF files of the reports of technical assitance · tahtm : HTML pages giving access to pdf files of the reports of investment projects · traffic : sub-website of the traffic model of BCEOM IGC-TRACECA website · igc-eng : html pages of the igc-traceca website in English · igc-rus : html pages of the igc-traceca website in Russian · images : all the gif and jpg files · Library : library items (for Dreamweaver) · style : style sheet (for Dreamweaver) · templates : templates (for Dreamweaver)


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1.22 Traceca web site / up-dating procedures

1.22.1 How to add a new project • Check the number of the project following the « chart.htm » page • Create a new sub-folders in the folder « tarep » for technical assistance or « iprep » for in-

vestment projects, and name it following the rule described in the « library.htm » page • Create a new description project page of the new project, name it the same as the new folder

and put this page in « tahtm » folder for technical assistance or « iphtm » folder for investment projects

• Add links to the new description project page from : o « chart.htm » o « projects.htm » o « library.htm » o each involved countries listed in « count.htm » o « ctrctors.htm » o each involved sectors in « road.htm », « rail.htm », « marit.htm », « horiz.htm » pages

1.22.2 How to add a new report • Create the PDF files of the report, name it following the rule described in the « library.htm »

page and put it in the corresponding folder • Create link to the PDF files from the involved description project page (ta01, ta02, ta03.htm�

or ip01, ip02, ip03�)

1.22.3 How to add a new Marco Polo article • Create PDF file of the article, name it « mpXX.pdf » and put it in the « marco » folder • Create link to this new article from :

o « marco.hm » o each involved countries listed in « count.htm »


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1.23 Traceca web site / List of reports published / difficulties faced

Technical assistance – Incomplete reports

24 BCEOM Pdf #

OK Module C 24xh4 The file « Photos montées.p65 » is in Page-Maker format. No software available to open it Impossible to open file as follows: - traffictables.xls - enviro.doc - planche-8.dwg - planche-15.dwg - planche-28.dwg

The drawing 23 is made of 2 files. One is in error Annexe 5 missing

PUBLISHED HOWEVER

OK Module D Inception report 24xh5 Annexes are incomplete - annexe 1 missing (carte) - annexe 2 missing (photo) - annexes 5 et 6 missing (text)

PUBLISHED HOWEVER

OK Module D Determination of the existing situation

24xh6 Annexes are incomplete - annexe 1 missing (plan) - annexe 3 missing (schéma)

PUBLISHED HOWEVER

OK Module D Maintenance and improve-ment recommendations

24xh7 Annexes are incomplete

Annexe 1 missing (photos)

A drawing is in error

« Print area » of the spreadsheets are not the good ones. Only a specialist of the content could reconstitute

PUBLISHED HOWEVER (except false spread-sheets)

OK Module E Evaluation Existing Facilities Task E3

24xh8 Annexes are incomplete

To extract photos from files (annexes 2 and 3)

To add drawings (annex 4)

PUBLISHED HOWEVER

OK Module E Evaluation existing facilities task 2E

24xh9 2 photos missing p.19

3 maps missing (reproduction interdite ?)

PUBLISHED HOWEVER

OK Module E Inception report 24xh10 They are only annexes.

Main text is missing

Annexes 5, 6 and 7 missing

PUBLISHED HOWEVER

OK Module E Technical report 24xh12 NON AVAILABLE


103

Investment projects – Incomplete reports

Pdf #

12 AZERCORPU

OK Progress report 12cm3 Impossible to find links between legends and photos PUBLISHED HOWEVER

Technical assistance – Complete published reports

22 Polzug Pdf #

OK Final report 22xh5 PUBLISHED

23 OK Scott Wilson

OK Legal rep final 23xr4 PUBLISHED

OK Legal Blueprint final eng 23xr5 PUBLISHED

OK Biz plan detail eng 23xr6 PUBLISHED (except annexes)

OK Application form IRU (Part A Trng prov form)

23xr7 PUBLISHED

OK Accreditation IRU (Part B self-eval forms)

23xr8 PUBLISHED

24 BCEOM

OK Module E Feasibility study 24xh11 PUBLISHED

OK Module E Technical report 24xh12 NOT AVAILABLE

OK Progress Report 24xh13 PUBLISHED

25 AXIS

OK Progress report 25xh4 PUBLISHED (link to IGC)

OK Final report (draft) 25xh5 PUBLISHED (link to GC)


104

26 KOCKS

OK Project fiche 26sr1 PUBLISHED

OK Terms of reference 26sr2 PUBLISHED

OK Inception report 26sr3 PUBLISHED

27 Computer Solution

OK Project fiche 27lh1 PUBLISHED

OK Terms of reference 27lh2 PUBLISHED

28 AXIS

OK Project fiche 28xh1 PUBLISHED

OK Terms of reference 28xh2 PUBLISHED

OK Inception report

PUBLISHED

29 To be contracted


30 To be contracted


31 To be contracted


32 To be contracted

OK Project fiche 32la1 PUBLISHED

33 To be contracted

OK Project fiche 33la1 PUBLISHED

Investment projects – Complete published reports

Pdf #

11 Siemens AG / Siemens ATEA

OK Project fiche 11sa1 PUBLISHED

OK Tender Document 11sa2 PUBLISHED

OK Progress Report 11sa4 PUBLISHED

12 AZERCORPU

OK Project fiche 12cm1 PUBLISHED