ECO Secretary General comments on the Achievements made in the 7^th Consultative Meeting of the Executive Heads of the Sub-regional Organizations in Bali, Indonesia

Press Release

            His Excellency Seyed Mojtaba Arastou, ECO Secretary General who attended the Seventh Consultative Meeting of the Executive Heads of the Sub-Regional Organizations in Asia and ESCAP in Bali, Indonesia, expressed the outcomes of the meeting in an interview.

            This two day meeting in which the Secretary Generals of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN), South Asia Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Pacific Island Forum have taken part, considered the ways and means of expanding the regional cooperation, as well as role of information technology on rural poverty alleviation, ecological tourism and assistance of the public in the activities of the regional organizations. ECO Secretary General in this meeting providing a report on the ongoing activities of the organization, discussed the issue of the need for public participation in regional cooperation efforts.

            ECO Secretary General stressing the importance of such regional cooperation added that these four regional organizations encompassing forty three countries around Asia and Pacific are having a unique regional cooperation with the assistance of UNESCAP and this is why it is expected that ESCAP may take a broader approach to these four regional organizations. Exchange of information and acquaintance among the four organizations were also discussed and it was decided to take measures in this regard. Also exchange of the publications as well as inter-linking the networks of the organizations were considered and it was decided that in order to publicizing the efforts of these organizations among the people of the Member States, round tables and lectures be provided in this context. Mr. Arastou added that competition of the regional organizations in the context of the international scene is very common these days and ECO Member States have seriously decided to compete and present ECO as an effective and fruitful organization internationally.

            ECO Secretary General mentioned the main achievements of the said meeting as follows:

i.             Expansion of regional cooperation would lead to stability and security in the region as well as strengthening the bilateral relations;

ii.            It is decided that during the next meeting the reports of the activities of these organizations be provided and it was requested that ESCAP would expand its cooperation with these organizations;

iii.           In return ESCAP proposed that a project with the cooperation of these organizations be designed. In this regard it is expected that the four organizations provide their proposals and views on the issue;

iv.           Through the proposal of the ECO Secretary General it was agreed that the next meeting hosted by ECO would be held in Tehran next year and Economic Cooperation Organization is expected to propose the agenda for the said meeting;

v.           Establishment of inter-linked computer network of the four organizations was also another decision of the meeting.

            ECO Secretary General on the sideline of the meeting held talks with the Secretary Generals of ASEAN and Pacific Island Forum to find ways of expansion of cooperation. Mr. Arastou in his meeting with ASEAN Secretary General discussed the issue of a joint project between the two organizations that the issue would be considered by the ECO-ASEAN Joint Ministerial Meeting to be held on the sideline of the UN General Assembly in New York. In the meeting with ESCAP Executive Secretary, Mr. Arastou emphasizing the need for expansion of cooperation between the two organizations, proposed that joint projects be considered and implemented.

            Its good to know that SAARC was established seventeen years ago in order to promote the economic situation of the Member States namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka that encompasses one fifth of the world population and ASEAN consists of Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Myanmar, Vietnam, Kampuchea and Laos. The Pacific Island Forum consists of small islands and countries in the Pacific region.

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