BRIEFING BY ALL PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS ON PRIORITIES AND MAJOR ACTIVITIES: 

PROGRAMME PRIORITIES OF ECO

ECO Secretariat

8th Consultative Meeting of 

Executive Heads of Sub-Regional Organizations

Excellencies,

 

          It is a great honour and privilege for me to explain to Your Excellencies ECO’s priorities and activities. I hope it will help us to discuss other agenda items better as we will be able to understand each other priorities and activities before we proceed further. 

 

          This year is more notable for recognition of ECO by international and UN bodies. The Secretary General of UN, Mr. Kofi Annan, in his paper to last UNGA directed the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system and the relevant international financial institutions to join in their efforts towards implementation of economic programmes and projects of ECO. In the same spirit, ECO is expected to be called upon to play a prominent role in the UN sponsored International Ministerial meeting on Transit Transport issues of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries on August 28-29, 2003, Kazakhstan and the International Freshwater Forum to be held on August 29-September 1, 2003, Tajikistan. Also, ECO would soon be entering into a dialogue under the rubric of Asian-African Sub-regional Organizations which is holding its Conference in Bandung from July 28-30, 2003. The opportunity would enhance ECO’s vibrant role in forging political and ideological solidarity with the people of Africa and provide a unique platform to study the regional development policies and their applications for use in our region.

 

Excellencies,

 

          Last year, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the expansion of ECO from 3 to 10 member states. We then reaffirmed our commitments that we would continue to work for i) enhancement of intra-trade within the region, ii) removal of impediments blocking Transit Trade and Transport problems, iii) increasing integration of the Landlocked Countries with global markets, iv) improvement of regional cooperation within Agriculture, Energy, Drug Control, Minerals exploitation and intra-regional Tourism.

 

          With the passage of time we are getting nearer to the fulfillment of our objectives. We have now reached the level of cohesiveness and integration which was inconceivable some years ago. Even in case of new areas such as reconstruction of Afghanistan, where Council of Ministers had specifically asked the member states to establish Special Fund for reconstruction in Afghanistan and encouraged Afghanistan to emerge as a full member of the Organization, the progress is positive. We are now more closer to realization of the directives of the 12th and 13th Council of Ministers Meetings and the objectives of the Istanbul Declaration of 2002 than before. In this respect, 13th Council of Ministers adopted a Plan of Action for making concrete steps towards helping the Islamic State of Afghanistan in its endeavor for rehabilitation and reconstruction.

 

          We recently convened the 13th meeting of our Ministers and ever since the 12th COM, we have been able to schedule more than two Ministerial meetings one on environment in December 2002 and 2nd on Trade and Commerce on 17 July 2003. The document signed by Trade/Commerce Ministers will open a new chapter of growth in trade in ECO region. The Trade Ministers also agreed to sign soon another landmark investment promotion agreement in the ECO region.

 

Nevertheless, the overall progress has been consistent and inspiring. We are presently working full time to ensure scheduling of the 1st Ministerial meeting on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Tehran, the 2nd Ministerial meeting on Energy/Petroleum in Iran, 2nd Ministerial meeting on Environment in Turkey, the 1st Ministerial meeting on Industry in Iran, the 1st meeting of Ministers of Finance and Economics, the 5th Ministerial meeting on Transport and Communication in Kyrgyzstan next year.

 

Also, I would like to highlight that for the first time the Organization has ventured into some new areas such as Finance and Economy, Information Communication Technology, Maritime Services and have lined up appropriate events to enhance regional understanding and cooperation.

 

          Another achievement in this particular sector has been the signing of an MoU with the World Customs Organization. Similarly we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Colombo Plan Secretariat and UNECE.

 

          Fully aware of our difficulties to activate the ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECO-CCI), we have sought the help of international organizations including ITC and WTO to make use of the dynamism of private sector to invigorate this institution. We will explain more this in specific agenda item 4.

 

          In the second priority area of Transport and Communications, our achievements are also substantive. As there is a specific item on the agenda on this I will speak when that agenda item will come.

 

          Some useful work has been done in the area of Environment. The 1st Ministerial meeting on Environment has been able to sensitize the international organizations and UN bodies about the dire needs of this region to set aside allocations for preservation of environment. I am happy to inform you, that the UNEP Governing Council in a recent decision has decided to help ECO in capacity building through technology transfer and called upon its member governments to contribute to the work of the UNEP in the ECO region.

 

          In the field of Energy, IDB sponsored ECO Countries Power System Inter-Connection Study is in the final stages of selecting an international Consultant. This study, when completed, will open up many new vistas for cooperation in energy sharing among power deficit and power producing member states. I would also like to make a mention of the draft ECO policy on strategy which includes among other things the regional cooperation on new and renewable energy resources. To promote this area further, the 2nd Ministerial meeting on Energy and Petroleum has been planned to be held in Tehran in near future.

 

          In the field of Agriculture, ECO has recently signed an agreement with FAO for a grant of US$ 327,000 for implementation of regional food security programme under which many supportive projects at countries and regional levels will be implemented.

 

Excellencies,

 

          I recently went to call on Prime Minister Karzai of Afghanistan. Ever since ECO has picked up pace and became increasingly involved in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. We are working for the implementation of Plan of Action on Reconstruction of Afghanistan that decision making body of ECO approved.

 

I would also like to mention the expanding ECO cooperative relations with IDB, UNESCAP, UNCTAD, FAO, ASEAN, Colombo Plan, ITC, IMF, World Bank, UNODC, UNESCO, UNEP and UNFPA. Institutionalization of joint Ministerial meetings with ASEAN is just another example. Recently this important meeting approved a joint study between these two organizations in 10 areas including trade & investment, transport, energy, finance and banking, industry, HRD, narcotic control etc.

 

          Let me also inform this august body that the Drug Control Project between the European Union, UNODC and ECO has started functioning since December last. The focal points in the member states are being reactivated for efficient implementation of this important project. The drug control measures have become an international priority. Recently I was in Paris attending an International Conference on Drug Routes from Central Asia to Europe held on May 22, 2003 where I met the Secretary General of UNODC. I met with him again on July 14, 2003. I will tell you more about this and some other meeting slightly later.

 

          I would also like to inform that ECO/UNFPA Roundtable on HIV/AIDS and Young People was arranged on June 5-7, 2003 with the participation of parliamentarians, representative of NGOs, Youth Associations from 8 ECO member states and UNFPA together with international experts. The Roundtable discussed the issues relating to the medical, socio-economic, and humanitarian aspects of this epidemic and came up with specific proposals and national and regional strategies on control and prevention of HIV/AIDS in the member states.

 

          Just a few days ago I went for a short visit to Vienna, on the invitation of UNODC Executive Director Mr. Antonio Maria Costa. He wanted to expand our cooperation with UNODC. We are discussing several mechanisms in new fields of cooperation. With UNIDO also I called on Mr. Magarino, Director General, we are now focusing more in the field of standardization. I also met with Dr. Seyiid Abdulai, Director General, OPEC Fund and Mr. Dr. Alvaro Silva-Calderon, Secretary General of OPEC. Cooperation in areas of their expertise is also under discussion.

 

Excellencies,

 

          We are making steady progress in establishing our specialized agencies and regional institutions. ECO Cultural Institute is now a very well established entity. ECO College of Insurance is also working very well. With them we are working to give it a little more flavour of ECO Shipping Company is also moving forward. There are certain problems but we are working to sort this out.

 

Within the Secretariat, we introduced some innovative management techniques to improve efficiency and the channels of communication among the Secretariat and the member states through adoption of the UN based Documentation System as well as establishment of a data warehouse through a secured website. Our website is now very interesting. There is no communication gap. We had been really active in this area. The entire range of official documents is just one click away.

 

Finally, I would like to say that we have witnessed an increasing interest of international organizations in ECO affairs which is a healthy sign. In the same spirit, we are also committed for international cooperation.

 

          Thank you.

 

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