[Index]
TIR TRANSPORT OPERATIONS UNDER THREAT
IN RUSSIA
Geneva, 13 December 2002
On 11 December the International Road Transport Union (IRU) has announced
the suspension of the guarantee coverage of TIR transport operations on the
territory of the Russian Federation as of 24 December 2002 at midnight GMT.
As of that date, it will, therefore, not be possible for Russian and international
transport operators to carry out TIR transport operations in the Russian Federation.
It will also not be possible for Russian transport operators to perform TIR
transport operations in other countries.
TIR transport operations are carried out on the basis of the so-called TIR
Convention. This Convention, concluded in Geneva in the framework of the UNECE
in 1975 and regularly updated to keep it in line with new developments, enables
the movement of goods through international borders under cover of a commonly
accepted Customs transit document, the TIR Carnet, with little or no intervention
by Customs of intermediate transit countries and at a low guarantee cost.
The guarantee is provided by an international guarantee chain, the management
of which has been entrusted by the countries Parties to the Convention to
the IRU.
“As a large part of international road transport to, from and through the
Russian Federation utilizes the facilities provided by this Convention, the
suspension of the international guarantee chain on the territory of the Russian
Federation will have major negative effects on international trade, not only
in the Russian Federation, but also in the rest of Europe.” said Mr. José
Capel Ferrer, Director, Transport Division of the United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Although the solution of the crisis is in the hands of the Russian authorities,
on the one hand, and the IRU, on the other hand, the UNECE secretariat is
doing its utmost to prevent the suspension from taking effect.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. José Capel Ferrer
Director, Transport Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Palais des Nations
CH – 1211 Geneva, 10 Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 24 00
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 00 39
E-mail: [email protected]
Ref: ECE/TRANS/02/06