ID :
154516
Thu, 12/23/2010 - 13:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/154516
The shortlink copeid
ECO can become a major regional player: Iran`s FM
TEHRAN, Dec. 23 (MNA) -- Iranian acting Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said the 10-nation Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) has the potential to turn into an important economic bloc.
“ECO has many potential capacities, and it is possible that it turns into an important and influential regional organization,” Salehi said at the 19th ministerial meeting of ECO in Istanbul on Wednesday.
ECO is an intergovernmental regional organization established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey with the aim of promoting economic, technical and cultural cooperation among member states. In 1992, seven other countries including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan joined this organization.
Salehi said, “Although ECO has made achievements in the areas of transportation, food, industries and mines, energy, and economic researches and been successful in expansion of its relations with the regional and international organizations, it is still a long way from achieving the ambitious goals of the organization.”
Pointing to the international economic crisis which has negatively affected the economies of regional countries, the acting foreign minster said the member countries should take collective measures to reduce the repercussions of the crisis on the region.
He went on to say that decision-making and planning in ECO should be based on thorough and expert studies as well as accurate assessment of the capacities of the member states in order to facilitate expansion of cooperation among members.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Salehi said the regulations and structure of ECO are outdated and should be revised in keeping with the current international and regional situations.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad participates in the 11th ECO summit today. The 10th ECO summit was held in Tehran in March 2009.
“ECO has many potential capacities, and it is possible that it turns into an important and influential regional organization,” Salehi said at the 19th ministerial meeting of ECO in Istanbul on Wednesday.
ECO is an intergovernmental regional organization established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey with the aim of promoting economic, technical and cultural cooperation among member states. In 1992, seven other countries including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan joined this organization.
Salehi said, “Although ECO has made achievements in the areas of transportation, food, industries and mines, energy, and economic researches and been successful in expansion of its relations with the regional and international organizations, it is still a long way from achieving the ambitious goals of the organization.”
Pointing to the international economic crisis which has negatively affected the economies of regional countries, the acting foreign minster said the member countries should take collective measures to reduce the repercussions of the crisis on the region.
He went on to say that decision-making and planning in ECO should be based on thorough and expert studies as well as accurate assessment of the capacities of the member states in order to facilitate expansion of cooperation among members.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Salehi said the regulations and structure of ECO are outdated and should be revised in keeping with the current international and regional situations.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad participates in the 11th ECO summit today. The 10th ECO summit was held in Tehran in March 2009.
