Lithuania’s representative elected Secretary General of OTIF

Lithuania’s representative Aleksandr Kuzmenko has been elected the Secretary General of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) at the General Assembly in Bern, Switzerland. For the first time a Lithuanian will head such a high-level international organisation.

His term of office will begin on 1 January 2025 and end on 31 December 2027.

“This is great news indeed and also global recognition of our entire transport sector – for the first time, one of the oldest and most important organisations promoting rail transport will be headed by a Lithuanian. I sincerely congratulate Aleksandr and wish him every success in his new important role in advancing more resilient, sustainable, greener, and secure railway connectivity,” said Marius Skuodis, Minister of Transport and Communications of Lithuania.

Mr Kuzmenko is an experienced lawyer specialising in international rail transport, international law and diplomacy. He began his career at Lithuanian Railways, where he played an important role in transposing European directives into national law and in negotiating the European Union’s fourth railway package. Since 2016 he is the Head of OTIF’s Legal Department and is recognised for his management of legal and political issues relating to international cooperation.

The Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to international rail transport. It has been active since 1893 and is the oldest international organisation in the sector. It now has 51 Member States and 1 Associate Member. The Organisation has its headquarters in Berne, Switzerland, and has legal personality under international law and in the national laws of its Member States.

OTIF is particularly important for Lithuania which aims to further develop passenger and freight rail transport on international routes within the European Union, especially in the North-South Corridor, as well as for the implementation of the Rail Baltica project.

Mr Wolfgang Küpper is the current Secretary General of OTIF.