Tehran, Iran, Feb. 28
By Mehdi Sepahvand – Trend:
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in his address to the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) has said the body needs to “have all member states on board,” emphasizing that the “less than full membership” arrangements or agreements have revealed their negative structural and institutional impacts on the Organization.
Zarif, who was addressing the ECO’s Council of Ministers (COM) in Pakistan, praised the organization’s recently drafted Vision, Tasnim reported.
“The Vision, along with its associated plans for action, is expected to drive us towards further regional integration and cohesion. If it happens, ECO will celebrate an important milestone in its three-decade history of evolution,” Zarif said.
He also assured that the Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to continuing its “unwavering support for the ECO.”
“We believe that the Economic Cooperation Organization is by far the best option for cooperation among the countries of the region. We firmly believe ECO-sponsored regionalism not only improves prospects for individual and collective economic development, but enhances political and security relations among the member states. We can ensure a more stable, peaceful and resilient community of countries through ECO’s cooperation and integration schemes, uplifting also our capacities to respond individually and collectively to the challenges and vulnerabilities.”
For the coming round, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan will adopt the role of the ECO head.
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 the member states.
In 1992, the Organization was expanded to include seven new members, namely, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan.