BSEC MINISTERS OF TRANSPORT DISCUSSING COOPERATION IN ARMENIA

ARKA
March 27, 2009

YEREVAN, March 27. /ARKA/. The Ministers of Transport of the Black
Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) are holding a meeting
in Yerevan to discuss further cooperation.

Opening the meeting, RA Minister of Transport and Communication Gurgen
Sargsyan stated that Armenia considers it a great honor to chair the
meeting being held in Yerevan.

"We plan to hold the most effective meeting to determine and declare
our further priority tasks," the Minister said.

He pointed out the BSEC steering committees’ efficient activities in
consistent execution of the previous joint declarations by the BSEC
Ministers of Transport, as well as the resolutions and recommendations
by the Foreign Ministers’ Council.

"This is the first meeting since the Memorandum of Understanding
facilitating the motor-traction in the in the BSEC, Memorandum of
Understanding coordinating the development of the Black Sea ring road
and the Memorandum on the development of sea routes in the Black Sea
region came into effect," Minister Sargsyan said.

Now that the three documents are in effect, specific measures to
accomplish the tasks set must be taken.

In this context Minister Sargsyan welcomed the formation of a Joint
Permanent Technical Secretariat for the Black Sea ring road. The
Secretariat has launched its activities and prepared a questionnaire
for the member-s tates.

"The answers will serve as a basis for a map, minimal technical
requirements and other specific features of the ring road," the
Minister said.

G. Sargsyan also pointed out the importance of a survey conducted by
the NEA research center. The survey results served as a basis for
three principal options of gradual liberalization of transit and
two-way motor-traction between the BSEC member-states.

Minister Sargsyan also stressed the importance of focusing attention
on developing cooperation to develop stable, effective and integrated
transport systems and infrastructures in the Black Sea region,
liberalize the transport procedures, develop multimodal traffic,
remove tangible and intangible barriers in the region.

"With this end in view, we must continue the previously launched
projects and elaborate new ones to accomplish the tasks set by the
relevant memorandums, as well as intensify the execution of all
the resolutions approved by the BSEC Foreign Ministers," Minister
Sargsyan said.

Armenia took over the BSEC Chairmanship last November and is to chair
the organization until April 30, 2009.