The 11th Summit Declaration
Istanbul Declaration 2010
The Eleventh Summit Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was held in Istanbul, the Republic of Turkey, on 23rd December, 2010. It was presided over by H.E. Mr. Abdullah Gül, President of the Republic of Turkey, and attended by:
H.E. Mr. Hamid Karzai,
President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev,
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
H.E. Mr. Mahmood Ahmadi Nejad,
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
H.E. Mr. Karim Massimov,
Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
H.E. Ms. Roza Otunbayeva,
President of the Kyrgyz Republic.
H.E. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari,
President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon,
President of the Republic of Tajikistan.
H.E. Mr. Tuvakmammet Japarov,
Deputy Chairman of Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan
H.E. Mr. Ulfat Kadirov,
Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Turkey.
The Heads of State/Government during their meeting in Istanbul discussed important regional and global issues and reviewed the performance of the ECO and progress made on the programmes and projects since the previous Summit:
Re-emphasizing the importance of the ECO’s goals and objectives as envisaged in the Izmir Treaty and previous Summit declarations;
Re-affirming their will and the need to enhance efforts towards improved economic cooperation, social welfare, quality of life, economic growth and sustainable development in the ECO region;
Expressing concern about the existing conflicts in the ECO region which impede peace, security, stability and sustainable development and reaffirming the importance of making increased efforts for resolving these conflicts based on the norms and principles of international law, in particular with respect to territorial integrity;
Recognizing that global economic crisis adversely affected economic growth and sustainable development in the region and reaffirming their determination to continue cooperation and develop common approach to further mitigate the effects of the crisis;
Reiterating the commitments made in the ECO Vision 2015 regarding the importance of achieving Free Trade Area in the ECO region to promote prosperity and sustainable development in the ECO region;
Emphasizing the importance of energy security for economic stability and sustainable development and the need for close cooperation to realize major energy projects in this regard;
Noting with concern the challenges for ensuring food security and agricultural development in the region as a result of water shortages, land degradation and drought;
Recognizing the serious challenges posed by climate change and the need to address this global threat at both international and regional levels and calling for financial support and technology transfer to the region to this end;
Underlining the significance of infrastructure development particularly in the areas of transport and communications in the region and early and effective implementation of road, railway and communication projects;
Reiterating the importance of full implementation of the key ECO Agreements in achieving ECO goals and objectives and calling on those member states that have not joined these agreements to expedite signing, ratification and accession procedures;
Appreciating actions taken to implement the ECO projects/programmes in advancement of the initiatives which would further strengthen ECO as an effective organization for regional economic cooperation and encouraging further actions to this end;
I. Renewed their commitments for effective implementation of ECO Vision 2015 as well as promotion of the ECO as an efficient regional organization.
II. Reaffirmed their determination to implement ECOTA with the ultimate aim of creating Free Trade Area in the region. They invited the remaining Member States to accede to the Agreement, and called for action on removing Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to regional trade; harmonization of regulations and trade facilitation measures for expansion of trade and reiterated the need to facilitate the accession process of the Member States to WTO.
III. Stressed the importance of promoting trade among the Member States, and in this context to avoid technical barriers and financial actions and limitations which impede free flow of trade.
IV. Appreciated the financial instruments introduced by the ECO Trade and Development Bank to support Member States and called upon the Bank to increase its role as a major financial institution in the region and renewed its call to remaining Member States to join the Bank.
V. Called for further strengthening of the private sector cooperation in line with the Plan of Action of ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industry and facilitate business relations in the region.
VI. Re-affirmed that in the framework of implementation of the Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA) among ECO Member States priority should be given to the enhancement of international trade and road transport facilitation instruments, aiming at harmonizing Customs procedures and facilitating border crossing, notably the 1975 TIR Convention.
VII. Noted with satisfaction the launch of the regular operation of the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Container Train in August 2010 and expressed hope that the regular operation of the ECO Container Trains on Istanbul-Almaty and Almaty Bandar Abbas Routes, also due realization of the project of Uzen (Kazakhstan)-Kyzylkiya-Bereket-Etrek (Turkmenistan)-Gorgan (Iran) railway would be launched in 2011.
VIII. Noted that construction of the railway connecting China and Europe through Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey will promote diversification of transport routes in the region. In this context also noted the construction of priority railway segments namely Kandahar-Chaman and Jalalabad-Torkham which connect Afghanistan to Pakistan.
IX. Underlined the importance of promotion of the project on construction of the railway route China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan aimed at enhancing regional cooperation on the Great Silk Road route.
X. Recognized that implementation of the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, Qazvin-Rasht-Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway and Baku International Trade Sea Port will enhance the competitiveness of the International Transport Corridor Europe–the Caucasus–Asia (TRACECA), North–South Corridor and the transit potential of the ECO Member States.
XI. Acknowledged the realization of the ECO/IRU Silk Road Truck Caravan in September-October 2010 as a major demonstration project in line with the provisions of the TTFA, and called upon the Member States and the Secretariat to implement the TTFA and start the regular run of the trucks in the ECO region under this Agreement by January 2011.
XII. Reiterated the urgent need for regional cooperation in maritime and multimodal transportation.
XIII. Called for the creation of a suitable environment for investment in energy sector projects by improving energy security in the Member States and making better use of New and Renewable Energy Sources.
XIV. Appreciated the progress achieved in the implementation of ECO Regional Programme for Food Security (RPFS) including the establishment of the Regional Coordination Center (RCC) on the implementation of the RPFS, ECO Veterinary Commission (ECO-VECO), ECO Center for Efficient Utilization of Water in Agriculture, ECO Meteorological Calibration Center (ECO-MCC) and activation of the ECO Seed Association (ECOSA).
XV. Recognized the importance of making full use of the hydro power potential of the region and in this context noted the urgency of realizing the CASA 1000 project, aiming at inter-connecting the energy systems of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
XVI. Noted the desire of the Republic of Kazakhstan to host the International Specialized Exhibition (EXPO 2017) in Astana.
XVII. Welcomed the establishment of ECOSTAT and stressed the need to consolidate statistical data and economic research to promote economic cooperation among Member States.
XVIII. Re-iterated their commitment towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the ECO region, with special focus on education, gender equality, Women’s and Children’s Health, re-emphasized by Heads of State and Government during the last September World MDGs Summit in New York.
XIX. Noted ECO’s role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, appreciated the contributions of Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey to the ECO Special Reconstruction Fund for Afghanistan and called for more contributions by member states to the Fund and cooperation between ECO and relevant national Agencies of the member states to speed up the reconstruction process.
XX. Welcomed the launch of the Kabul Process and supported the outcomes of the historical Kabul Conference of July 20, 2010 as well as the fourth meeting of the Regional Economic cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (Istanbul, November 2-3, 2010) which would compliment the achievements of the Kabul Process in realizing greater regional cooperation in support of sustainable development and durable stability in Afghanistan and the region.
XXI. Welcomed the initiative of the ECO Secretariat to become a Member of the newly established High-Level Core Group of Regional Bodies on Afghanistan to inter alia coordinate the activities of relevant Regional Organizations in Afghanistan.
XXII. Commended the efforts made by the Secretariat to strengthen and expand ties with the United Nations system and other international and regional bodies and emphasized the need to continue its endeavors to further promote mutually beneficial partnerships.
XXIII. Welcomed the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan of Action for enhancement of external relations of ECO.
XXIV. Acknowledged the need for strengthening cooperation in disaster risk management in the ECO region, one of the world's most disaster prone areas, urged for regional programmes and projects and further collaboration among the ECO member states through existing mechanisms including the Regional Center for Risk Management (RCO-RCRM) in Mashhad-Iran.
XXV. Welcomed the initiative by Turkey to establish an Eminent Persons Group (EPG) to study and review the work of the Organization including the ECO Vision 2015, in order to enhance the dynamism, efficiency and visibility of the Organization and provide recommendations to be submitted to the Council of Ministers.
XXVI. Expressed their resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and seized this opportunity to denounce and condemn all acts of terrorism as it constitutes one of the most serious threats to peace, security and economic development.
XXVII. Expressed sympathy with economic suffering of the people of Gaza.
XXVIII. Welcomed the assumption of the Chairmanship of ECO by the Republic of Turkey, expressed confidence that the Turkish Chairmanship, in close cooperation with the Member States, will bring renewed dynamism to the ECO process.
XXIX. The Heads of State and Government expressed profound thanks to His Excellency Mr. Abdullah Gül, President of the Republic of Turkey for steering the deliberations of the 11th ECO Summit most ably to a successful conclusion, and sincerely appreciated the warm hospitality shown by the people and Government of the Republic of Turkey and the immaculate arrangements made for the Summit.
XXX. Welcomed the offer of the Republic of Azerbaijan to host the 12th ECO Summit in 2012.