Should the information bulletin of the International Association of Customs Museums be released in printed or electronic form?  This question was among the issues discussed at the 20th International Association of Customs Museums (IACM) held in Rotterdam (Holland) and Antwerp (Belgium). Its discussion was prompted by the inability of IASM’s members to introduce timely their topics into the information bulletin in order to present them to the conference.  

According to information provided to “ICTnews” online news service by the State Customs Committee,  the Azerbaijani delegation headed by the director of “Azerterminalkompleks” Association of the State Customs Committee, major general of Customs Service Gambay Aliyev  took part in the conference. The activity was also attended by delegations from Norway, Germany, Slovakia, France, US, Austria, Lithuania, Denmark, Ireland and other countries.

At the conference the head of the Azerbaijani delegation Gambay Aliyev made a statement concerning the above-stated problem, in which he proposed to all members to come to IACM’s next conference with prepared topics. Let’s note that the next 21st conference of IACM will be held next year in Azerbaijan. Then, professor of Eindhoven Technology University  of Holland Dr. Ruth Oldenziel took the floor. He delivered an interesting report titled “Should we impose taxes on human legs?”  It was a short analyses of taxes imposed on riding of bicycles, which was introduced in 1897, when bicycle clubs began to spread throughout Europe. 
    
The participants were shown a film about the 21st conference of IACM to be held in Baku in 2013. The film was presented to the conference by the Azerbaijani delegation.  After exhibition of the film, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation Gambar Aliyev made a proposal to provide every customs museum with an access to attributes, printed materials, catalogs and albums of custom services of other countries. G.Aliyev  informed participants that the film covering Azerbaijan Customs History Museum’s activities in 2011-2012 was placed on IACM’s website. 

After that, the participants were presented the following two topics to be disscussed at the 21st conference of IACM - “Customs museums’ relations with creative organizations and state structures” and “Creative customs pursuing common objectives”. It was noted that these topics with explanations had already been sent to e-mails of IACM members. It was also suggested that member states send via e-mails their proposals on topics to be discussed at the 21st conference of IACM.