Turkey takes over ECO presidency from Iran

Foreign ministers of member countries to Economic Cooperation Organization, or ECO, got together in Istanbul ahead of leaders' summit planned for Thursday.

ECO-member countries are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Turkey has taken over the presidency of the Council of Ministers, the highest policy and decision-making body of the organization, from Iran which is represented by newly appointed Foreign Ministry caretaker Ali Akbar Salehi.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made the opening remarks at Wednesday's event and said that the meeting would discuss important issues on regional cooperation and global economy.

Davutoglu said Turkey has been following a multidimensional, proactive and vision-oriented foreign policy aimed at helping build an atmosphere of security, stability and prosperity in its region and in a broader geography.

He said that ECO took an important place in Turkey's foreign policy as common historical, geographical and cultural ties have cemented relations of the peoples of member countries which have a population of 400 million on a territory of 8 million sq km.

Underscoring that natural resources and dynamic manpower of ECO-member countries created a significant power and opportunity for economic activity, Davutoglu said that current global economic challenges have recently shown the importance of ECO-like organizations.

He urged all member countries to sign and ratify the ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) in the shortest time possible and called on them to join the ECOBANK established in Istanbul as the bank of the organization.


/World Bulletin/