Preparation of the draft Strategy of the IGC TRACECA development up to 2025 – one of the important tasks

Left: Mr. Mircea Ciopraga, Secretary General of the PS IGC TRACECA; Right: Mr. Akif Mustafayev, National Secretary of the IGC TRACECA in Azerbaijan

During the meeting Mr. Ciopraga, Secretary General of the PS IGC TRACECA, discussed with Mr. Mustafayev the results of his visit to the European Commission in Brussels and the recommendations of EU on the transformation of TRACECA into an international organization.
 
During the discussion Mr. Akif Mustafayev, the National Secretary of IGC TRACECA in Azerbaijan, mentioned that one of the most important issues at the moment was the preparation of a draft Strategy of the IGC TRACECA for the development of the international transport corridor “Europe-the Caucasus-Asia” for the next 10 years (until 2025).

Mr. Mustafayev added that the previous strategy of the IGC TRACECA until 2015 was nearing completion and in this context, the draft of a new Strategy should be prepared as soon as possible and be submitted to the member-states of the MLA TRACECA. Taking into consideration the comments and suggestions of the countries, the draft Strategy is to be submitted to the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) for approval.

Discussing the financing of the PS IGC TRACECA, the National Secretary emphasized the importance of this issue. The Working Group and the Meetings of the National Secretaries (Permanent Secretariat) can be carried out subject to the adequate funding.

Regarding the transformation issue, Mr. Mustafayev noted that this issue was already not new, as it was considered a few years ago. The National Secretary of TRACECA suggested that the PS should prepare a synopsis on the expediency of TRACECA transformation into an international organization, where would be clearly reflected the respective advantages of this transformation. According to the procedure, the prepared synopsis is to be submitted to the countries where a draft strategy until 2025 will be included as a separate item.
 
The National Secretary of the IGC TRACECA in Azerbaijan stressed the necessity of efficient solution of these issues since there remained less than a year before the next IGC.