( July 2004)

 
The railway administrations of the ECO member states, namely the Islamic State of Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Turkey, Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan, hereinafter referred to as "Contracting Parties", bearing in mind the goals and objectives of the Treaty of Izmir (14 September 1996), as well as the relevant decisions of the 4th and 5th meetings of the Heads of ECO Railway Authorities (Lahore, 26-28 October 1999 and Almaty 19-21 September 2000), agreed on the following:

The Contracting Parties shall implement the agreed ECO Railway Tariff Policy based on the principles set forth in the articles of this MoU.

 
The Contracting Parties will apply the agreed ECO Tariff Policy (BCO RTP) based on the OSJD Agreement on International Freight Traffic (SMGS, 1 July 1990), the provisions and regulations of the International Transit Tariff (MTT) and the ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement (9 May, 1998) and its Annexes.

 
1. The ECO Railway Tariff Policy of International Freight Traffic will be agreed once a year.

 
2. Each Contracting Party shall have the right to increase the might rates and additional charges for transportation on its territory, but not more than twice a freight year (calendar year), with at least one month prior notification to railway administrations in other member states before their entry into force. Each contracting party shall also have the right to decrease freight rates and additional charges for transportation on its territory with prior notification to railway administrations of other member states.
 

The Contracting Parties shall try to bring their tariffs closer to each other in order to optimize the share of transport cost in price formation and to increase the competitiveness of the railway transport as compared to other modes.

A Committee on the ECO Railway Tariff Policy shall be established. The Terms of Reference of this Committee shall be drawn up by the ECO Secretariat and approved by the ECO railway authorities' meeting.

The Contracting Parties shall exchange the list of forwarding companies (agencies), which concluded contracts for the next and during the next freight year
(calendar year) for the payment of international transportation of goods at the rates of agreed ECO Railway Tariff Policy, along with their addresses, telephone and fax numbers.
 

The Committee on the ECO Railway Tariff Policy shall be responsible for monitoring the implementation of this MoU by the Contracting Parties.

1. This MoU shall be concluded for an indefinite period of time and shall enter into force on the date of its approval by the ECO Council of Ministers.

 
2. This MoU may be joined by other railways by submitting their written applications to the ECO Secretariat and after getting the consent of the signatory Member States.

 
3. Each Contracting Party may withdraw from this MoU by written notification sent to the ECO Secretariat. The withdrawal shall be valid from the first day of the calendar month after 3 months from. the date when such notification is received by the ECO Secretariat.

 
4. This MoU may be amended with the approval of all Contracting Parties.

 
5. This MoU shall be deposited to the ECO Secretariat, which shall act as its depositary.

1. Done in Istanbul on July 7, 2004 in one original copy in English and Russian, both texts having equal force.

 
2. The ECO Secretariat shall send certified copies of this MoU to all Contracting Parties.

 
3. In witness thereof, the Contracting Parties signed this MoU:

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