A meeting of Transport Ministers of Black and Caspian Seas region countries took place in Baku on October 3.

Hosted by the Ministry of Transports, the meeting was attended by representatives and experts of the Russian Federation, Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and Greece and some international organizations.

Opening the meeting deputy chief of the Azerbaijan State Railways Musa Panahov said that the meeting is being held within the framework of the OBSEC chairmanship (Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation). On October 1-2, a sitting of Transport Ministries’ working groups of the Black and Caspian Sea region countries took place where the participants discussed certain issues on preparation for the present meeting.

The agenda included issues on strengthening of cooperation transports sphere and adoption of declaration on transport development cooperation in the Black and Caspian Sea region.

The meeting was addressed by Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Mahmud Mammadguliyev, deputy Ministers of Transport, Communications of Bulgaria, Georgia Krasimir Martinov, and Zurab Gudavadze, ambassador of Greece to Azerbaijan Mercourios Karafotias, ambassador of Romania to Azerbaijan Tasin Cemil, deputy Minister of Transports of the Russian Federation Chingiz Ismayilov. They stressed significance of transport cooperation in present conditions when globalization is spreading around the world.

Speaking at the meeting, chief of foreign liaison department of the Transports Ministry of Turkey Metin Kati, deputy minister of Transport of Ukraine Sergey Simonenko told on the present situation, and prospects of transports and international cargo transportation in their countries and work done towards the process of international transport cooperation expansion.

RF deputy Minister of Transports Chingiz Ismayilov noted that the Russian Transport Association instituted a medal “Afanasiy Nikitin” for persons who have great contributions in transport development.

The meeting participants adopted a Declaration “On Transport Cooperation Development in the Black and Caspian Seas Region”.