Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26
By Temkin Jafarov - Trend: Convergence and cooperation of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) member countries within this organisation is a verified means of protection against possible economic crises and the ones that recently existed in the world, Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani said on Nov. 26, Iranian news channel IRINN reported.
The Iranian president made the remarks speaking at the opening ceremony of the 21st Meeting of the Council of Ministers (COM) of ECO in Tehran.
According to Rouhani, the favourable geographical location of ECO member countries and the existence of the North-South and East-West transport corridors in these countries, even more strengthens the confidence that in future, ECO will be an even larger and influential structure.
Close cooperation of ECO member countries over the past 20 years will be the foundation for their future relations, Rouhani said.
According to the Iranian president, the current level of cooperation among ECO member countries is unsatisfactory and there is the necessary infrastructure for further development of ties.
"If trade relations between the ECO countries expand this will give an impetus to their development, as well as create conditions for investment," Rouhani stressed.
ECO does not recognise alternative structures, Rouhani added.
"Transformations should be conducted within ECO so that they contribute to the expansion and deepening of cooperation among the member countries of this organisation," the Iranian president said.
A meeting of representatives of ECO member states was held in Tehran on Nov. 24-25 in preparation for the 21st meeting of the organisation's Council of Ministers. The charter of the Analytical Centre which will operate in Baku, was agreed upon at the meeting, as well as work carried out in 2012-2013 in the areas of transport, trade, energy, environment and agriculture.
The situation related to the implementation of ECO projects, programmes and proposals reflected in the work programme for 2014 was also assessed.
In addition, the text of the communique was prepared. The adoption of this is provided by the outcome of the meeting of the ECO Ministers Council.