H.E. Mr. Ali Akbar Salehi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, I.R. Iran
H.E. Mr. Amir Mansour Borgheei, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman
Distinguished Heads of ECO Delegations
Heads of ECO Specialized Agencies/Regional Institutions
Ladies & Gentlemen
At the outset, I wish to extend very warm welcome to the distinguished delegates to the 21st session of the ECO Regional Planning Council being held in Tehran-the city which has been a munificent host to a multitude of ECO meetings in the past. I must thank the Government of I.R. Iran for their generous hospitality and impeccable arrangements for the event. The increasing frequency of ECO Meetings in Tehran is indeed an expression of Iran’s keen interest in realizing the cherished goal of regional integration as envisioned in the Treaty of Izmir. I wish also to express my sincere gratitude to H.E. the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iran for his gracious and kind presence at the inaugural session. Sir, your personal attention and support to ECO has been a source of great strength for us. We shall continue to benefit from Your Excellency’s wise counsel in realization of our objectives.
At this point, allow me to express my warm felicitations to H.E. Mr. Amir Mansour Borgheei, on his unanimous election as the Chairman of the 21st Session of the RPC. His chairmanship would certainly navigate the deliberations to most fruitful conclusions.
The RPC Meeting, as usual, holds extraordinary significance for the work of ECO. For, while taking stock of our performance since its last session, it would set goals for our future work. Above all, the decisions reached in the span of next two days would provide fresh impetus to Organization’s work in various sectors. A detailed Working Paper covering all aspects of ECO’s progress has been circulated. Here, I would like to briefly summarize key developments on various fronts.
Excellencies
Trade is a priority area for promoting regional integration. It guarantees a growing and dynamic regional economy leading to the path of socio-economic progress. We believe that meaningful cooperation in the region could only be achieved with liberalized trade under an open, free and fair trading system. The recently published ECO-PIDE “Study on Trading Patterns in the ECO Region” reveals that a trade potential of over US $ 280 billion remains unutilized annually. It is a staggering figure - an eye opener for our policy makers to undertake urgent measures for giving a new direction to the content and scope of regional trade and investment.
Distinguished Delegates
May I also invite your attention to the fact that the last Ministerial Meeting on Commerce/Foreign Trade was held six years ago? Afghanistan offered hosting the 4th Ministerial Meeting in Kabul in May 2011. It is regrettable that this meeting of great significance was postponed as confirmation for participation at Ministerial level was conveyed by only one Member State. With this state of affairs it would be unjustified to expect tangible progress by ECO without the whole hearted support of Member States. I am sure that for the rescheduled dates of the Meeting in July 2011, all the Member States would now confirm participation. It is extremely important for making further head way towards our declared goals of establishing a Free Trade Area in the region by 2015.
ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) aims at formation of a sound regional block with opportunities for growth in trade, finance, industry, investment, transit and other key areas of economic development. Realizing that the progress on the Agreement remained stalled in last three years, the Secretariat hosted the ECOTA Cooperation Council Meeting in April 2011. Owing to a divergent position of one member state, the remaining Contracting Parties could not take the historic step of effecting ECOTA tariff concessions. This has brought the regional trade initiative to the verge of uncertainty. Our apprehensions are not unfounded in view of parallel moves by some Member States to launch other arrangements. The membership needs to take a fresh start, rethink and re-evaluate their parallel initiatives. We must recognize that concerted efforts are required to fulfill our commitments in accordance with the aspirations of our political leadership. We can not afford delay action as time is of essence.
On the institutional mechanisms, ECO has covered good ground during the year. We express our deep gratitude to the President of the Republic of Turkey for taking personal interest in the expansion of the membership of ECO Trade and Development Bank. After Afghanistan, the Bank is currently processing the membership of Azerbaijan. We have also received positive signals from the Kyrgyz Republic to join the Bank.
ECO Reinsurance Company is another institution being established for boosting commercial cooperation. The ratification procedures by Iran and Turkey are being completed to operationalize the Company in the next few months. Preliminary steps towards the institutional mechanisms on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building have already been initiated. We have also made headway in setting up new ECO forum of the Heads of Investment Promotion Agencies.
Excellencies
In Transport, tangible progress has been made in most of the activities recommended by the 20th RPC. During September-October 2010, the ECO Silk Road Truck Caravan made 11,300 km demonstration journey across the region. Comprising of trucks from eight Member States, this historical Caravan contributed to enhance regional cooperation in road transport. While appreciating our initiative, the 11th ECO Summit directed the Secretariat to start regular run of the trucks among the Member States. Accordingly, we have prepared jointly with IRU an action plan to start and monitor the regular run of trucks.
In the sector of rail transport, the ECO has achieved commendable progress such as:
(i) The regular monthly operation of the ECO Container Train on Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Route has been started. Measures are also being followed to revitalize the ECO Container Trains on Istanbul-Almaty Route and open up a new container train service on Almaty Bandar Abbas Route by end of 2011.
(ii) Another milestone achieved during the previous year is measures to open up a railway line from China to Europe via Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey. The pre-feasibility study for Afghanistan has already been completed. The feasibility study in Tajikistan has started with a US$1 million grant by Iran. We are in contact with the enroute countries and potential donors to start the study in the Kyrgyz Republic, pursuant to the 1st Ministerial Meeting of the enroute countries.
(iii) The construction of railway between Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran is going on smoothly, pursuant to measures taken by the trilateral Coordination Committee of the enroute Member States and ECO (Astana, June 2010). The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.
Implementation of the Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA) is followed up at all levels. The ECO White Card is on the verge of enforcement. The common visa Sticker for drivers and its procedures are being finalized. The ECO road and railway transit route maps have been published.
Excellencies,
All the Member States had acceded TIR Convention except Pakistan. The Pakistan authorities were requested to do so to facilitate transit transport among all the ten countries. I would request the Pakistan delegation to apprise their position on this issue. It is worth mentioning that after a successful TIR Capacity Building Workshop in Kabul, organized by the Secretariat, Afghanistan is ready to implement TIR Convention in the near future. A similar workshop is proposed for Pakistan.
Also on the directive of the 11th ECO Summit to promote TIR system in the region, a Regional Conference on TIR Convention will be held on 23-24 May 2011 at Istanbul, with the participation of stakeholders from the Ministries of Transport, Customs, and Transport Associations. I would request the Member States to actively participate in this Conference at senior official's level. Participation in the event is fully funded.
In the communication sector, we are making headway in launching an important ECO regional project for online money transfer through post offices. An online system has been developed by Turkey and is now operational, on pilot basis, between Azerbaijan and Turkey. In order to launch this system among all the Member States, a meeting was held in Iran in April 2011, where Azerbaijan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey agreed to start operation within four months. I would request remaining Member States to join this online. Since Pakistan has established network of online money order system, I will request them to join this project at the earliest.
Efforts are also underway to establish ECO Logistic Provider Associations Federation (ECOLPAF) in the near future. Active cooperation of logistic organization of Member States for establishment of ECOLPAF would be highly appreciated.
Excellencies
Energy is a lifeline in the development of any country, therefore to enhance cooperation in Energy and Petroleum; we have developed a 5 years plan of action during our 2nd Ministerial Meeting which was held after a gap of 10 years at Dushanbe, Tajikistan. In line with the action plan, we have conducted number of High Level meetings, including workshops and training courses to share the experience to build the capacity of the relevant institutes of the Member States. Recently, we have also arranged a Joint ECO-OPEC Workshop on “International Petroleum Market” after a gap of 8 years in Esfahan, April, 2011.
Simultaneously, we are trying hard to develop potentials in the field of Geology, Mineral and Geometric Engineering, we have planned some events during this year. Your participation in these events will facilitate to achieve the desired objectives.
Excellencies
Due to increase in population and massive urbanization in the region, a marked growth in agricultural productivity is required to provide food security and to build prosperous economy. In pursuance to this objective ECO with the technical assistance of FAO has stated a Regional Programme for food security and seed supply. ECO/FAO-SEC project on Seed Sector Development in the ECO region has also been approved recently and will be launched soon. The Secretariat is actively working to establish ECO Regional Centre for efficient use of water in Pakistan, ECO-RCRM, ECO Agricultural Biotechnology Network and the ECO Permanent Veterinary Commission (ECO-VECO) in Iran.
We have also decided to concentrate more on industrial cooperation in 2011 and 2012. We have planned some capacity building training programme in Small and Medium Enterprises sector in cooperation with IDB and Colombo Plan.
Excellencies,
We have immense tourism potential in our region. To highlight the historical sites and tourist information, we have published the first ECO Tourist Guide Book. We are also planning to hold 3rd Ministerial Meeting in 2011 in Tajikistan to prepare some action plan to improve the tourism sector in the region.
Mr. Chairman
The role of statistics and economic research is crucial for adequately assessing the ongoing regional development. Science based analyses, forecasts and economic data are central for all calculations, measurements and defining future trends in the development of the Organization. In lines with these objectives, ECO Secretariat in collaboration with Statistics Centres of Iran has developed ECOSTAT and it has become operational with ten member states having access to ECO data base..
We have also established ECO Training Centre on statistics in Islamabad. It will further upgrade experts’ profile in the region in the medium and long term. The first training exercise has been scheduled during the coming July. ECO has set up regular partnership with FAO, UNIDO, ESCAP, UNFPA and IDB through the ongoing projects which aim to facilitate capacity building process in the region in agriculture, industries and SME development through statistics.
In the field of economic research, the Joint Economic Research Programme of ECO has been developed and approved by the 19th COM. It will now generate economic analyses output to lay down the foundation for long term economic strategy of the Organization. Seven research study projects are currently being implemented in Member States of which one has successfully been completed.
Mr. Chairman
In the health sector, there is a great potential to expand cooperation among the Member States. In this regard, we arranged the 1st ECO Health Ministers Meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan to finalize action plan for achieving joint cooperation in the health sector, particularly in the fields of health related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Blood Transfusion and Pharmaceutical affairs. In line with this action plan, we are also working on establishing ECO Blood Safety Network and Drug Regulatory Network. I hope that 2nd Ministerial Meeting scheduled for October 2011 in Kazakhstan would further strengthen our cooperation in health sector.
Distinguished Delegates
The campaign against drugs, terrorism and trans-national organized crime are among ECO priority. We are working closely with the European Commission (EC) within the framework of ECO-EC Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to implement the project titled “Fight Against Trafficking from/to Afghanistan” with the ECO Member States. A consortium of GIZ, Interpol, UNODC, BKA Germany and ECO-DOCCU has been established to enhance technical capacity of Drug and Organized Crime Coordination Unit (DOCCU) of ECO and National Centre Bureaus (NCBs) of the ECO Member States. The Container control and the Forensic laboratories are additional component of the project. Efforts are also underway to establish the ECOPOL to coordinate against transnational crime through intelligence sharing, harmonization of policies and operations.
Mr. Chairman
We have made sustained efforts to pursue close cooperative relations with the United Nations and other regional and international organizations as well as relevant non-ECO states. ECO’s image in the international arena is growing. Whilst, new MoUs have been signed with the Turkish International Cooperation & Development Agency (TIKA), International Rail Transport Committee (CIT) and a trilateral MoU with UNECE and IDB, efforts have also been made to put into operation existing MoUs. The United Nations General Assembly at its 65th session adopted a biennial resolution on ECO-UN cooperation. The ECO Contact Groups have been established. The one with UNIDO in Vienna has already started functioning. Draft Modalities for granting Observer/Dialogue Partnership status at ECO will be finalized soon. These will help realize the idea of granting Observer/Dialogue Partnership Status at ECO as envisioned in the Treaty of Izmir. Also, establishment of ECO Troika is in the offing.
We are experiencing growing interest among regional blocks to cooperate with ECO. Recently we have granted observer status albeit provisionally to the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (CCTS). Moreover, the Developing-8 (D-8) Organization has shown keen interest in establishing cooperation between ECO and D-8. It is our earnest desire to make ECO a vibrant and dynamic regional organization as envisioned in ECO Vision 2015.
Excellencies,
I have given you an overview of our performance since 20th RPC. We have not been able to utilize our potential fully because of certain constraints and bottlenecks but we still feel that we have achieved some milestones especially in transport sector during the last one year. We have the urge and intention to produce best results and for that purpose we would require whole hearted support of our Member States. Before concluding, I will request the honourable delegates to critically examine the project proposals of the Secretariat in the review meeting and suggest best implementation methodologies to achieve the desired results.
At the end, I once again thank the Government of Islamic Republic of Iran for arranging this meeting in Tehran and I wish you all successful deliberation and a pleasant stay in Tehran
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