Iran Speaker: ECO Role To Enhance Regional Solidarity, Significant

Tehran, Feb 11, IRNA – Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani described the role of Parliamentary Assembly of Economic Cooperation Organization (PAECO) in boosting of solidarity among regional states as significant. Speaking to reporters at Tehranˈs Mehrabad Airport before his departure for Islamabad, he noted that resolution of regional problems through regional treaties is becoming a prevalent approach around the world. Larijani noted that he will confer the latest regional and international developments with Pakistani officials. ˈThere are good grounds for cooperation among ECO member-states in all fields, including the economic, political and technological areas.” Larijani left Tehran for Islamabad on Monday morning in order to take part at a conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of Economic Cooperation Organization. Senior Advisor to the Iranian Parliament Speaker for International affairs Hossein Sheikholeslam had told the Iranian media that Larijani would stay in the Pakistani capital Islamabad from February 11 to February 13 to attend the conference of PAECO. He noted that the PAECO conference would focus on the supervisory role of parliaments in inter-regional commerce and investment. The Iranian MP also stated that Larijani would visit Pakistani officials on the sidelines of the conference during his three-day stay. ECO is an intergovernmental regional organization established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey for the purpose of promoting economic, technical, and cultural cooperation among member states. The organization was expanded in 1992 to include seven new members, namely Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. ECO provides its members with a platform to discuss ways of improving economic development, and promoting trade and investment opportunities. Additionally, Iran and Pakistan have always had very close and intimate relations throughout the history. The two countries exchange delegations on a regular basis and their leaders are resolved to further accelerate expansion of ties and cooperation between the two neighboring nations. Early in February, Supreme Leaderˈs Advisor for International Affairs Ali Akbar Velayati underlined that Iran and Pakistan are willing and resolved to further develop and consolidate their bilateral relations regardless of the enemiesˈ opposition. Demand for natural gas in Pakistan has outstripped supply in recent years, putting existing reserves under immense pressure. The 2700-kilometer long pipeline between Iran, Pakistan and India was to supply gas for Pakistan and India which are suffering a lack of energy sources, but India has evaded talks. Iran and Pakistan declared in 2011 they would finalize the agreement bilaterally if India continued to be absent in the meetings. According to the project proposal, the pipeline will begin from Iran’s Assalouyeh Energy Zone in the south and stretch over 1,100 km through Iran. In Pakistan, it will pass through Baluchistan and Sindh, but officials now say the route may be changed if China agrees to the project. The gas will be supplied from the South Pars gas field in the Iranian Southern province of Bushehr. The initial capacity of the pipeline will be 22 billion cubic meters of natural gas per annum, which is expected to be later raised to 55 billion cubic meters. It is expected to cost $7.4 billion. Iran has already built more than 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its soil./end