Tajik President names priorities for ECO

Development of transport and energy infrastructure, effective use of water and energy natural resources, establishment of free trade areas, provision of conditions for free movement of people, transport and goods are among priority goals of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Tajik President Emomali Rahmon stated.

"The goals and purposes which are of common interest for member states of organization, have already been determined, they are reflected in organization's vision till 2015. There are goals which Tajikistan highlights as priorities," Rahmon noted on Tuesday during his speech at ECO summit in Baku.

According to Tajik president, simple rules and procedures as well as effective mechanisms of their implementations are required to reach practical results in these cooperation fields.

"Our organization (ECO) has to move forward if it wants to remain competitive at the regional and international level.

We are sure that as far as organization's reformation is concerned, an important role must be given to the implementation of project activities," the president said.

Rahmon thanked Azerbaijan for hospitality and expressed hope that the summit will serve as a good stimulus for further productive activity of the organization.

He also expressed his gratitude to Turkey for the successful chairmanship in ECO.

Rahmon also noted that at the last summit, the member states have agreed that only business, straight and critically complex approach to organization's activity can transform it into an active development tool of regional economic trade relations, which will allow to use organization's potential more effectively, for benefit of nations and countries.

"Back then, the talks were held about serious reforms regarding the organization, and for such purposes, a group of outstanding figures was created, for studying the existing problems, and eliminating the obstacles which prevent the organization to implement its mandate, and realize general goals and purposes," he said.

According to the president, within the last 2 years the above mentioned group has managed to research the real situation in the organization and discover unused resources, to prepare recommendations on how to answer modern challenges, and most importantly - to focus attention on the implementation of specific projects.

Rahmon noted that special attention was given to settlement of trade economic issues and establishment of infrastructure directed to the achievement of stable economic prosperity of organization member states.

"Today, from our point of view, the summit should consider the issues and proposals and take clear decisions on their implementation," Rahmon said.

He paid special attention to the issue of energy and noted the importance of rapid implementation of such vital projects in the region as the common electric power line.

"In this context, I would like to remind the Dushanbe Declaration, Action Plan on Energy for 2011-2015, which was approved at a meeting of energy ministers of ECO member countries, which was held in the capital of Tajikistan in October of 2010," the president said.

He noted that these documents should be fundamental to the organization's activities in the field of energy cooperation in the near future.

Tajik President paid special attention to the issue of Afghanistan in his speech.

"Socio-economic stability and sustainable development of the region today largely depends on the situation in Afghanistan, and it is very important that providing assistance and rehabilitation of Afghanistan's economy remained on the agenda of the organization, especially in view of the forthcoming withdrawal of the international coalition from Afghanistan in 2014," Rahmon said.

He noted that a conference on cooperation on Afghanistan was held in Dushanbe on March 2012, during which the participants agreed on the need for a series of broad administrative reforms and cross-border economic initiatives, including the conclusion of cross-border agreement to promote regional economic integration.

A number of infrastructure projects, including in the energy and transport sectors were presented there, the president added.

"We believe that ECO would be the most active engine and method of connection to the projects, in which everyone will be able to find its niche," Rahmon said.

He noted that Tajikistan supports the activities of organization's special fund for reconstruction of Afghanistan and the action plan for the reconstruction of public facilities that "undoubtedly contributes to the rehabilitation of the Afghan economy as a whole."

The Economic Cooperation Organization is a regional Intergovernmental economic body established in 1985 by the countries of Central Asia and the Middle East and is the successor of the Regional Cooperation for Development which acted on the basis of the Charter - the Izmir Treaty, signed by three founding countries - Iran, Pakistan and Turkey on March 12, 1977.


/Trend/