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..Press
Release................................
UNESCAP News Services
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Date 30
June 2005
Press Release No: N/33/2005
The Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian
Highway Network comes into force
on July 4, 2005
Bangkok (United Nations Information Services)
-- The Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network
comes into force on July 4, 2005. The landmark agreement aims
to complete 141,000 kilometres of standardized roadways spanning
32 Asian countries with linkages to Europe. The Asian Highway
network will enable direct travel from Tokyo to Istanbul, facilitating
trade and tourism and opening up land-locked countries.
“The Agreement marks a major milestone in
regional cooperation that will substantially improve opportunities
for trade and tourism,” Executive Secretary of the United
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UNESCAP) Mr Kim Hak-Su said.
The Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway
Network is the first treaty developed by UNESCAP and deposited
with the UN Secretary-General. It sets technical standards for
road and route signage and includes mechanisms for amendments
or additional routes. 27 out of the 32 participating member
States have signed the agreement.
“16 per cent of the roads are below the
minimum standards and an estimated US$18 billion is needed to
upgrade and improve the Highway,” Mr Kim said. UNESCAP
is working with the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank,
the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the Islamic Development
Bank and other partners to help countries identify sources for
investment.
UNESCAP has been negotiating routes and road specifications
for the Asian Highway Network since 1992.
NOTE TO EDITORS: You or your representatives are cordially invited
to attend the special ceremony to celebrate the entry into force
of The Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network.
We will provide a complete media kit with full background information
for you.
When: Monday, 4 July, 2005 at 14:00 hours
Where: Conference Room 4 of the UN Conference Centre, UNESCAP,
Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok
For further information please contact:
UN Information Services Bangkok
Tel: +(66-2) 288-1861-69, Fax: +(66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org
http://www.unescap.org
http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/index.asp?MenuName=AsianHighway
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