ECO Council of Ministers verified positions on a broad regional agenda in Dushanbe
The 23rd meeting of the Council of Ministers of foreign affairs (COM) of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was held in Dushanbe.
On behalf of Turkmenistan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of foreign affairs Rashid Meredov attended the meeting chaired by Tajikistan.
The agenda of the meeting included issues related to the implementation of existing agreements, reforming the structure of the organization, its specialized bodies, regional institutions, the implementation of the program document “ECO Vision 2025”, as well as the development of a new scale of contribution by member-countries.
In his remarks, the head of the Turkmen foreign ministry voiced the priorities of Turkmenistan in cooperation with the ECO. These are primarily the development of cooperation in the transport and energy sectors, which today are the drivers of global economic growth. Turkmenistan believes the comprehensive and effective participation in the formation of new transport and transit corridors is the urgent task in the organization's activities for the foreseeable future.
At the same time, economic partnership in the ECO space is inextricably linked with the expansion of cultural and humanitarian contacts. In this context, the Turkmen side pointed to the relevance of the working out the plans for cultural events, including festivals with the participation of children and youth groups, meetings of the creative intelligentsia.
The situation in Afghanistan has become one of the main topics of discussion. The meeting, stressing the importance of regional efforts to establish lasting peace and stability in this country, adopted a new ECO Programme of assistance to Afghanistan.
At the end of the session, the COM signed the Dushanbe communiqué, which outlined trade, transport, energy, economic progress, social security, tourism and environmental protection as areas, which require enhanced cooperation. The Council also appointed the representative of Iran, Hadi Soleimanpour as the new Secretary General of ECO.
R. Meredov held a number of talks in the capital of Tajikistan. In particular, at the meeting with the Tajik counterpart, the parties exchanged letters of ratification for the Agreement on strategic partnership between Turkmenistan and Tajikistan.
The issues of bilateral cooperation were discussed at the meetings with the foreign ministers of Iran and Afghanistan.
During the meeting with the deputy foreign minister of Kazakhstan A. Kamaldinov the upcoming Caspian summit was discussed.
The Council of Foreign Ministers of the ECO is the highest policy and decision-making body of the organization. The Council is responsible for decision on/approval of policies, strategies, work programmes; appointment of Secretary General and his Deputies; establishment of subsidiary or ad-hoc committees; approval of annual budgets; setting the assessed budgetary contributions of Member States.
Early May, the 9th meeting of the ECO transport Ministers will be held in the Avaza national tourist zone on the Caspian coast.
