Press release

22 May 2008

Beirut

The Convention on International Multimodal

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UN-ESCWA 25th Session, held under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Yemen, Mr. Ali Abdullah Saleh, opens at the Ministerial level at 10 AM on Wednesday 28 May 2008, at Movenpick Hotel-Sana’a. It will witness a number of significant events, such as the adoption and signature of the Convention on International Multimodal Transport of Goods in the Arab Mashreq. The Convention is part of the achievements of Member countries in cooperation with UN-ESCWA within the framework of the development of the Integrated Transport System in the Arab Mashreq (ITSAM). It also represents an important component of the development of the transport system and the facilitation, improvement and integration of international transport in the region. The development of ITSAM began in 1999. This system focuses on the following issues and policies: infrastructure development; improving the efficiency of operations and movement, developing and harmonizing laws, systems and criteria; developing organizational and human resource structures; concluding regional and international agreements; and developing funding programs, to improve the movement of trade and transport regionally and internationally and on all land, sea and air border crossings. International multimodal transport is the process of transporting goods by more than one mode of transport under one transport contract and one transport document, for which one person (the forwarding agent) shall have responsibility from the time of receiving the goods in one country until they are delivered to the consignee in another country. International transport has undergone a major transformation since the mid-twentieth century, particularly in respect of the increased use of containers transported by lorry, train, ship and airplane, making the international multimodal transport of goods one of the most important components in the flow of trade between the countries of the world. The Convention on International Multimodal Transport of Goods in the Arab Mashreq is expected to be signed following the opening session of the Ministerial segment. The Convention will remain open for signature throughout the session for the representatives of member countries who are duly authorized to sign the convention and provided with credentials endorsed and signed by heads of States or of Governments, or foreign ministers, in accordance with principles and procedures in force at the Office of Legal Affairs at the UN headquarters-New York. UN-ESCWA is one of the five UN Regional Commissions. It is comprised of 13 member countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Its objective is to support economic and social cooperation among the countries of the region and promote the development process in order to achieve regional integration. * *** *
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