Historical Silk Road and TRACECA

In cooperation with many countries worldwide, with the European Union and other international organizations Azerbaijan has closely participated in the restoration of the Historical Silk Road- in the preparation and realization of the TRACECA Program. Azerbaijan Republic has been one of the 8 former USSR states (together with Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) that put forward the initiative the TRACECA Program of the European Commission in the Conference held in Brussels in May, 1993. Current problems and shortages of the transport and trade regional systems were defined and discussed in the Conference. Based on the results of the Conference, The Brussels Declaration, which laid the foundation of the TRACECA interregional Program, was adopted.

The participation of Azerbaijan Republic in the TRACECA Program has strategic importance and provides great opportunities for the consolidation and expansion of economic relations between Azerbaijan and Europe, for integrating into the world economy and becoming international transport junction. Thus, during the past period within the TRACECA Program dozens of technical and investment projects have been realized, including “Training on the management of transport”, “Legal and regulatory framework of transport”, “The exercise of unified tariffs policy in the TRACECA transport corridor”, “Simplifying border checkpoint procedures”, “Restoration of Caucasus railways”, etc.

An international Conference over the restoration of the Historical Silk Road was held in Baku on September 7-8, 1998 with the participation of heads of 9 states (Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine), delegations of 13 international organizations and 32 countries. In the Conference, “Main Multilateral Agreement on the international transport over the development of Europe- Caucasus- Asia corridor” was signed and Baku Declaration was adopted. 

The Agreement was signed by the heads of states and governments of 12 countries- Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkey.

In accordance with the provisions of the Main Multilateral Agreement, Baku was chosen as the location of the Permanent Secretary of TRACECA Intergovernmental Commission and official opening ceremony of the Permanent Secretary of TRACECA Intergovernmental Commission was held on February 21, 2001.

In the past period, significant work has been done in the Republic within the framework of TRACECA Program towards the development of transport infrastructure with the purpose of realizing the terms of the Main Multilateral Agreement. Thus, in the recent years, to increase the load flow in the TRCECA transport corridor, some measures were taken in order to improve technical equipment of the transport sector, much work has been done for restoration and construction of automobile highways, railways, and bridges, and for the maintenance of railway vehicles, ships, ferries, port facilities. In Baku, an oil discharge port that allows to load and discharge 10 tons of oil per year was put into operation. Reconstruction works in the ferry terminal of Baku International Trade Seaport were concluded.       

TRACECA Program and the restoration of the Great Silk Way is one of the greatest programs for today and the XXI century. The earlier is ensured the comprehensive development of this program, the faster will be the integration between South Caucasus and Central Asia countries and Europe.