Joint efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states will promote peace and stability in the region, CNN Turk quoted Turkish President Abdullah Gul as saying at the ECO summit in Teheran.
"Through joint efforts of the ECO member states we can achieve solution to many problems, peace and stability in the region," Gul said. He added that the ECO member countries must fulfill their obligations in a short time.
"In a globalized world, it is impossible to solve many problems alone. Therefore, countries must cooperate in many spheres, including economy," he added.
Gul called on the ECO member countries to reduce customs costs among themselves.
The ECO summit started in Tehran on March 11. The meeting will specify date and venue of the next summit. A Tehran Declaration will be adopted. Iranian President will deliver a speech on the outcomes of meetings.
The Economic Cooperation Organization was established as an interstate structure in 1985 to strengthen economic, technical and cultural cooperation among Turkey, Iran and Pakistan.
Azerbaijan was officially admitted to the ECO in 1992. Central Asian countries joined the organization in the same time. Current ECO members are Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
The summit involved the presidents of Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, Tajikistan and Iraq, the vice-president of Syria and the Emir of Qatar.