A MEETING OF THE EXPERT WORKING GROUP ON THE CASPIAN SEA - BLACK SEA INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT ROUTE HAD BEEN HELD IN ROMANIA

On June 24, 2019, a quadripartite meeting of the Expert Working Group on the Caspian Sea - Black Sea international transport route took place in Bucharest with the participation of high representatives from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Turkmenistan, devoted to discussing issues related to putting this cargo route into effect.

The delegations were headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania Maria Magdalina Grigore, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Alexander Khvtisiashvili and Head of the Department of Customs Control and Trade Promotion of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan Samad Garalov.

The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Transport, Internal Affairs, Trade, Customs, Border and Migration Services, the sea ports of Turkmenbashi, Constanta, Baku, transport and logistics centers and business communities of four countries.

Speaking with a welcoming speeches, the speakers referred to the 4-sided meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Turkmenistan held in Bucharest on March 4, 2019 and the Bucharest Statement adopted within it, which became an important document reflecting the political commitment of the four countries in implementing the initiative on the creation of the international transport route Caspian Sea - Black Sea.

During the session meetings, the participants discussed the role of this transport route in connecting the countries of Europe and Asia, and its significance in the context of the adopted: in June 2019, the new EU Strategy for Central Asia and in October 2018, the EU Strategy for Europe and Asia. Participants exchanged information on existing and ready-to-action transport infrastructures along the route, as well as the possibilities for their expansion. The parties also considered issues related to the possibility of developing and implementing at the national level regulatory legal acts that contribute to creating favorable conditions for launching this route and enhancing economic cooperation in the East - West direction.

At the end of the negotiations, the participants accepted the results of the quadripartite meeting of the Expert Working Group on the Caspian Sea - Black Sea international transport route.

During the visit, on June 25, the Turkmen delegation also had a meeting with the leadership of the “Administration of the Seaports of Constanta” and got acquainted with the capabilities of the seaport.