OSCE Forum discusses rail and road transport, good governance at border crossings

VIENNA, 1 February 2010 - Policymakers and experts will discuss measures to promote good governance at border crossings, improve the security of land transportation and facilitate international road and rail transport in the OSCE region during the first part of the 18th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum which started in Vienna today.

The two-day conference brings together more than 250 participants, representing governments, international organizations and global transport associations.

"In the context of the global economic downturn the 2010 Kazakhstan's OSCE Chairmanship attaches increased importance to the economic and environmental dimension of the Organization's activities, our priority being the development of open and secure transport links between participating States," said Kazakhstan's Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Azat Bekturov. "In light of globalization, the importance of international transport networks increases significantly. Transport serves as a material basis for establishing connections between the countries, and plays a key role in shaping global economic space."

The Forum participants will discuss the challenges posed to international road transport by the global financial and economic crisis, ways to promote transparency and enhance co-ordination between customs and other border agencies to improve governance at border crossings and facilitate transport and trade. Other topics include providing access to sea ports for landlocked countries, more effective regional co-operation in the OSCE area, and improving security and efficiency of transport connections in Central Asia and with Afghanistan.

OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut emphasized that addressing the challenges in the field of international transport and governance at border crossings requires a wide and inclusive approach. "This Conference reminds us again of the unique platform role that the OSCE can play to build networks and to focus political attention on technical questions of great significance," he said.

Goran Svilanovic, the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, said that he envisaged the focus of the Forum to be on harmonizing border crossing procedures across the region, advocating a public-private partnership approach, supporting co-operation and enhanced information exchange between state agencies and private businesses, as well as addressing corruption in customs and border agencies. "Responding to threats to security posed by illegal activities, trafficking and smuggling is yet another issue of primary importance which will be further discussed during the next two days," Svilanovic added. He said that the recommendations of the Forum "could later on be translated into concrete activities aimed at providing solutions to some pressing problems".

The second part of the 18th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum will take place from 24 to 26 May in Prague.