2^nd Summit Communique

Istanbul Joint Communique

( Istanbul, 6-7 July, 1993 )

          The Second Summit Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization was held in Istanbul, Republic of Turkey on 6-7 July 1993. The Meeting was attended by:

-         H.E. Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani, President of the Islamic State of Afghanistan.

-         H.E. Mr. Resul Guliev, Vice Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

-         H.E. Mr. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

-         H.E. Mr. Nursultan Nazarbaev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

-         H.E. Mr. Askar Akaev, President of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.

-         H.E. Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

-         H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmanov, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Tajikistan, Head of State.

-         H.E. Mr. Suleyman Demirel, President of the Republic of Turkey.

-         H.E. Mr. Saparmurad Niyazov, President of Turkmenistan.

-         H.E. Mr. Islam Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

          The Heads of State or Government held, in a cordial atmosphere, an in-depth exchange of views and wide ranging discussions on the most important regional and global matters of common interest, especially those concerning the socio-economic well-being of the peoples of their region. In this context, the Heads of State or Government.

BEARING in mind the aims and objectives of the Economic Cooperation Organization as laid down in the Treaty of Izmir.

RECALLING deep-rooted historic and cultural affinities binding the peoples of the ECO Member States.

MINDFUL of the rapid changes taking place around the world which have a direct bearing on the ECO region.

RECOGNIZING that peace and stability in all parts of the world are indispensable for economic development and;

REAFFIRMING their resolve to promote the socio-economic well-being of the peoples of the region through enhanced cooperation among the ECO Member States:

1.  WELCOMED the expansion of the Economic Cooperation Organization into a major regional grouping of ten Member States sharing a common vision for a future of progress and prosperity;

2. REAFFIRMED the principles of cooperation enshrined in the Tehran Communique of the First ECO Summit and the Ashgabat Declaration of the Summit Meeting of the Regional States;

3. AGREED that because of the crucial role that free enterprise would play in the transition and development of the economies of the ECO countries as well as in their further integration into the world economy, recommendations should be formulated to ensure maximum participation of the private sector in the regional economic activities.

4. AGREED that the economic policies of the ECO Member States should be concerted to harness the vast human and material resources of the region for the economic uplift of the masses;

5. AGREED that ECO Member States should give top priority to the development of a modern and efficient infrastructure, with emphasis on transport sector, not only linking the Member States but also providing them access to other areas of the world;

6. AGREED on the need for enhancing scientific, technical and cultural cooperation among the Member States with special emphasis on the acquisition, assimilation, development and transfer of technology and know-how on most favourable terms between Member States;

7. EMPHASIZED the need for forging stronger economic and commercial links among the Member States by according high priority to the liberalization of trade and creation of financial institutions to promote sustained economic growth in the region;

8. AGREED on enhancing economic and commercial ties and recommended holding joint exhibitions, creating border markets, free trade and industry zones and a multimodal transport company, and promoting tourism among other measures to be taken to this end;

9. AGREED to utilize existing satellite launching facilities in the Member Countries;

10. APPRECIATED the efforts undertaken by the ECO for establishment of mutually beneficial relationships with other regional bodies and cooperative linkages with international organizations and urged that these efforts be continued selectively and on a gradual basis;

11. ENDORSED the consensus in principle for establishing the headquarters of ECO Shipping and Airline Companies in Iran, ECO Reinsurance Company in Pakistan and ECO Trade and Development Bank in Turkey and directed that necessary techno-economic feasibility studies on all aspects of these projects be carried out by the relevant bodies in accordance with para 28 of the Report of the Special Meeting of the Council of Ministers.

12. ENDORSED the targets set out in the Quetta Plan of Action of ECO adopted in February 1993;

13.  ENDORSED the ECO Long-Term Perspectives (Istanbul Declaration) for the year 2000 and beyond and;

14.  DECIDED that the Summit Meeting of the ECO Member States should be held annually for an exchange of views including a comprehensive review of ECO’s ongoing activities and identification of new areas of cooperation. They welcomed the offer of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to host the 3^rd Summit Meeting in 1994, in Pakistan.

          The participating Heads of State or Government expressed their gratitude to the President of the Republic of Turkey, His Excellency Mr. Suleyman Demirel and to the Government of the Republic of Turkey for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality extended to them during their stay in Turkey and the excellent arrangements made for the Meeting.

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