PROTOCOL
OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING ON ROAD TRANSPORT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO
Joint Committee Meeting on Road Transport between Turkey-Kosovo was held in Prishtina on 16-17 of November 2011.
Members of both delegations are listed in the appendix.
The Delegations agreed upon the following agenda.
1- Exchange of statistical information on the trade and transport
2- Transport of passengers
3- Transport of goods
4- Other Issues
1- Exchange of statistical information on trade and transport
The Delegations exchanged information and statistical data regarding commercial relations, goods and passenger transport between two countries. They expressed their satisfaction over the increasing trade and cooperation between two countries.
The Delegations agreed to take necessary measures and exert efforts to further develop goods and passenger transport as well as trade between two countries.
Both delegations expressed their happiness about the completion of the ratification process of the new “Agreement Between The Government of The Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Republic of Kosovo on International Transport of Passengers and Goods By Road”, Signed on 20 May 2010 in Ankara, and expressed their belief that the trade and economic relations between two countries will further develop with the implementation of this new Agreement.
2- Transport of passengers
The Delegations exchanged information on regular passenger services between two countries and agreed to encourage any demands for regular passenger service lines. The Delegations also exchanged information on application method and documents to be presented during operation of regular passenger service. The delegation agreed to exchange the list of regular bus operators carrying out transport operation between two countries.
The Delegations defined the application principles for “shuttle services” stated in Article 4 of the Agreement and agreed to exchange 50 pcs permits for shuttle services in the year 2012 on the basis of reciprocity. The delegations agreed to exchange additional permits if required by one of the contracting party. The delegations expressed the need of presenting the control document including the list of passengers during this type of transport.
Permits shall be valid until 31st January of the following year.
The Delegations stated that occasional passenger services are exempted from authorization and agreed that plate number of the bus, names of the passengers, their passport numbers, date of travel, place of departure and arrival should be included on the “control document” which will be used for this type of transport, in addition, the information on the control document should be written in Latin alphabet.
The Delegations exchanged the sample of the control document to be used for shuttle and occasional transport services.
3 - Transport of goods
The Delegations confirmed that bilateral and transit transport operations are not subject to permits and quota system in accordance with Article 8 of the Bilateral Road Transport Agreement. After the negotiations, the Delegations agreed to establish the quota for 3rd countries and unloaded entry for the year 2012 as follows on the basis of reciprocity;
3rd country / unloaded entry permits 300 pcs
The Delegations agreed that vehicles of a Contracting Party can enter the territory of the other contracting party without load to collect goods to its country/to third country, or can carry goods from the other Contracting Party to a third country or can carry goods to other Contracting Party from a third country with this permits.
The Delegations agreed that any demand for additional permits during the course of the year will be evaluated and dealt within the framework of good intentions.
Permits shall be valid until 31st January of the following year.
The Delegations exchanged the sample of the permits to be used for good transport services.
4- Other Issues
The Turkish Delegation stated that since Kosovo is not a party to Green Card Convention yet, the requirement of insurance from the Turkish vehicles increases the transport costs. Therefore, the Turkish Delegation requested the assistance of Kosovo side that Turkish vehicles also benefit from the exemption which is applied to some European countries.
Kosovo delegation proposed to consider the possibility of exempting the vehicles of both countries on mutual basis from insurance requirement until Kosovo join the Green Card system. The Turkish delegation took note of the proposal of Kosovo delegation and will inform the relevant authorities for evaluating the possibility of such implementation.
The Delegations exchanged information on transport legislation, customs procedures, traffic legislation, taxes and restrictions imposed on fuel oil and social provisions in practices applied in their countries for the implementation of the agreement.
The Turkish Delegation, with in the frame of technical cooperation opportunities in the field of road transport, stated that it is ready to share its experiences with Kosovo side, in the field of transport legislation, road side inspection, periodical technical inspection of the vehicles, training of the drivers for professional competence licenses. In this regard, the Turkish delegation invited the Kosovo side to visit Turkey in the first quarter of 2012.
The Kosovo delegation asked the Turkish side for their support in the international platforms for being membership of international organization and being party to the International Agreements/Conventions especially in the field of transport. Turkish delegation expressed that its full support will be provided upon the request by the Kosovo side.
The Meeting took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere and both Delegations expressed their satisfaction over the results.
The Turkish Delegation invited the Kosovo Delegation to Turkey for the next Joint Committee Meeting. The exact date and venue of the meeting will be determined through bilateral correspondence.
Done in Prishtina, on 17th November 2011, in two originals in English language.
For the Turkish Delegation For the Kosovo Delegation
Ali Rıza YÜCEULU Xheme VESELI
______
The delegation of Kosovo
1.Mr. Xheme VESELI Acting Director of Road Transport Department,
Ministry of Infrastructure (MI)
2. Mr. Ramadan DURAKU Chief of the International Passenger Transport Sector, MI
3. Mr. Fejzulla MUSTAFA Head of Division for Freight Transport and Dangerous Goods, MI
4. Mr. Nazmi GASHI Legal Officer, MI
5.Mr. Sami FUSHA Inspector Department, MI
6.Mr. Visar RRECAJ Senior Treaty Officer, MFA
7. Mr. Avni MEHMEDI Kosovo Chamber of Commerce
Turkish Delegations
Ali Rıza YÜCEULU Head of Delegation
Director General
General Directorate of Road Transport
Ministry of Transport, Maritime and Communications
Enver YENİÇERİ Regional Director
Ministry of Transport, Maritime and Communications
İzzet IŞIK Head of Department
General Directorate of Road Transport
Ministry of Transport, Maritime and Communications
Burak Serkan YAŞAR Ministry of Customs and Trade
Taylan ÇOBAN Ministry of Economy
Bilal AKKURT Trade Attaché, Turkish Embassy in Prishtina
Private Sector
Nejdet YAZAR UND (International Road Transport Associations)
Cansu BAKİ UND (International Road Transport Associations