On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and on my own behalf, I congratulate your Excellency and all the member-countries of the Economic Cooperation Organization on the occasion of ECO Day.

Today, ECO is a recognized regional organization continuing to contribute in realization of the concrete plans for further development of regional integration.

Tajikistan highly appreciates the positive role of ECO in promoting and broadening cooperation, good neighbourly relations, mutual trust and friendship between member ­states, facilitating their joint development. Strategic significance of the region is enhanced by the fact that it is a bridge between East and West, Asian and European culture. These factors also define the significance of ECO in world economy and geopolitics.

At present, the fundamental role of ECO is to give a new impulse to the development of cooperation among countries of the region and establishment of sustainable development programmes.

In this regard, I would like to express my hope that the defined reforms of the Organization are aimed at transforming ECO into an international institution of geostrategic importance and a reliable instrument for achieving the goals and objectives put by.

I would like to avail this opportunity to wish You, Mr. Khurshid Anwar, all the success in achievement of those noble objectives put before our Organization.