The 21st Meeting of the BSEC-URTA General Assembly

The 21^st Meeting of the BSEC-URTA General Assembly was held on 4 May 2012 in Tirana, Albania and was honoured by the participation of: H.E. Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos - the Secretary General of the BSEC Organization, Mr. Umberto de Pretto – IRU Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Petraq Milo - Advisor to the Council of Ministers on Economic issues, Mr. Ylli Manjani - Deputy Minister of Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Mr. Kujtim Hashorva – Director of Road Transport Policies of of Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Mr. Sajmir Lacej – Head of Customs Procedures, General Directorate of Customs of Republic of Albania.

The Agenda of the meeting contained important items for the road transport industry such as: Outlook Report (G3334), Activity Report on the BSEC-URTA Priorities in 2012(G3335), Safety of Professional Drivers subject to frequent X-Ray Controls at the BSEC borders (see the Agenda)

The Director of Road Transport Policies, Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Telecommunications of Albania, Mr. Kujtim Hashorva made a comprehensive presentation on the road transport system in Albania.(see the presentation)

The General Assembly thanked the IRU and the TOBB for their readiness to provide technical assistance with the BSEC-URTA for developing a regional system of arbitration specialised with road transport operations and it decided to set up an Ad Hoc Working Party on Establishment of a Regional Arbitration System under Article 10 of the BSEC-URTA Statuses with the participation of interested Member Associations.

It also established an Ad Hoc Working Party on Creation of a BSEC-URTA Lobby Group under Article 10 of the BSEC-URTA Statuses with the participation of interested Member Associations, in order to study the feasibility of creating a Lobby Action Group within the organisation together with possible framework of objectives, scope of activities and working rules and regulations.

Upon recommendation of the Management Council, the Member Associations decided to create the BSEC-URTA Order of Merit based on rules and principles similar with the IRU in order to recognise, appreciate and commend regional personalities or organisations of extraordinary distinction, which contributed substantially to realisation of the objectives of the BSEC-URTA.

The General Assembly warmly commended H.E. Ambassador Leonidas Chrysantopoulos for his invaluable leadership, substantial personal efforts and continuous commitment to the development and further facilitation of road transport in the BSEC Region and unanimously approved granting to His Excellency the first ever BSEC-URTA Order of Merit on the occasion of the Special Ceremony held at the meeting of the General Assembly in Tirana on 4 May 2012.

Finally, participants thanked ANALTIR for the excellent organization of the meeting and the hospitality extended and expressed special thanks to its President Mr. Ilirjan Mataj for his invaluable efforts and personal leadership to promote interests of the industry in Albania.

For more, Click here to see all the documents from the Meeting.