Akif Mustafayev, National Secretary of Azerbaijan for TRACECA, said it was discussed European Commission’s new initiative for transforming TRACECA into a trans-European transport network.

“The speech is about transforming TRACECA into ’south-east axis’. So far the initiative that might be realized in case of sufficient organization and project financing, will be discussed preliminary. Its discussion in details will be held in Baku, 4 December, at TRACECA Transport Ministers’ Meeting,” A.Mustafayev said.

This will be an anniversary meeting since the basic TRACECA has been signed in Baku in 1998.

The 6th TRACECA transport corridor Regular Intergovernmental Commission’s Meeting was held in December 2007 in Astana. At the session it was decided to hold TRACECA session in Baku in 2008 devoted to 10-year of signing an agreement on creating the transport corridor.

The 7th TRACECA transport corridor Regular Intergovernmental Commission’s Meeting will be held in 2009 in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan).

The following countries are partners of the TRACECA Basic Multilateral Agreement on International Transport signed in Baku in 1998: Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Armenia. TRACECA activity is supported by European Union.

According to statistical data, on average via nearly 45-46 million tons of goods is transported via TRACECA by all transport means. Besides, European Commission annually initiates 4-5 projects (mainly technical but not investment ones) for EUR 13-15 million. 10-12 million tons of oil and oil products are transported annually from Central Asia to Europe.