Speech by Mr Yves Berthelot

Mr Yves Berthelot EXECUTIVE SECRETARY UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE (UN/ECE)

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased that you have chosen the theme of mobility for your annual congress as the mobility of ideas, persons, goods and services is essential to the development of democracy and economic progress. In fact, the UN/ECE has been working to improve these “mobilities” for over 50 years - making analyses and political recommendations and negotiating conventions and standards. In the areas of road, rail, river and combined transport, the ECE has attempted to facilitate transit and the crossing of borders, increase safety and reduce pollution. Its contribution spans over 40 years, initially helping to build bridges between East and West, and since 1989, promoting the integration of the central and eastern European countries into the regional and global economy in a bid to strengthen European cohesion. As regards road transport, I am pleased to be able to acknowledge that these activities have been developed in close cooperation with the IRU.

In the area of road transport you will no doubt be aware of the network of E-roads linking the north, south, east and west of Europe. However, there are also agreements on road signs and signals which, along with vehicle safety standards, have prevented the number of serious accidents from growing in proportion to the amount of traffic. Since 1970, the number of road-accident victims has fallen by 40% while the amount of traffic has tripled. Finally, as a result of other standards introduced, pollutant emissions from new vehicles are now ten times lower than they were in 1970.

This progress in Europe prompts me to make two more general points. The political changes in the East, the dynamism of Asia and the will of China to develop its western provinces are further factors which may increase road and rail transport between the eastern and western ends of the Eurasian continent. At the same time, Iran and the countries in the Mediterranean region are trying to increase their trade with Europe. The transport directors of the regional commissions for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia noted this during their recent meeting in Cairo and have agreed to work towards the integration of the A, E and M networks and the development of instruments facilitating transit and the crossing of borders. But why not build on what we already have? 
You will all have heard of the TIR Convention. And as the Vienna Convention on road traffic, road signs and signals, harmonising traffic regulations and road signs and signals throughout Europe, has proved - if the will exists to facilitate transport between the countries of Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, we should be looking to extend and possibly adapt existing instruments.

To do this, we need your cooperation. You will no doubt be aware that the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, systematically encourages non-governmental organisations, companies and governments to unite their efforts when dealing with common international problems. We have here a unique opportunity to combine forces to boost commercial exchanges across the Eurasian continent.

It seems to me that this is an ideal opportunity to apply the IRU slogan: “Working together for a better future”.

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