Seminar on ECO’s Participation in the Reconstruction of Afghanistan

Kabul – 9-10 November, 2005

ECO Secretariat, Tehran, November 13, 2005

Press Release

            A Seminar on ECO’s participation in the reconstruction of Afghanistan was held in Kabul on 9-10 November 2005, on the sidelines of the Third ECO Conference on Trade & Investment.

            The Representatives from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Turkey as well as the ECO Secretariat delegation participated in the meeting. The representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD) and the Turkish International Cooperation Agency (TICA) also attended the Seminar.

            The Seminar was chaired by Mr. Mahmoud Saikal, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for Economic Affairs.

            The Seminar was inaugurated by Mr. Nazeer Shahidi, Deputy Minister of Economy of Afghanistan, who in his statement briefed the participants on the process of reconstruction that has taken place in the last few years particularly in areas such as health, education and infrastructure. He thanked the ECO and the Member States for participating in the Seminar and called for more pledges in the ECO’s Special Fund for the Reconstruction of Afghanistan.

            Mr. Askhat Orazbay, Secretary General of ECO, in his statement congratulated the people of Afghanistan on successfully holding the parliamentary elections and expressed the hope that the elections would lead to peace, progress and prosperity in the country. He briefed the participants about various ECO initiatives aimed at the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

            In their statements, the representatives of the participating delegations gave details of the assistance which their respective countries have extended to Afghanistan both on the bilateral and on multilateral basis. They also reiterated their support to the ECO initiatives relating to the efforts towards reconstruction of Afghanistan.

            The Seminar concluded with a set of recommendations which inter-alia included endorsement of ECO decision to finance construction of Deh Mazang Public Park, a call for increased pledges to the ECO Special Fund for the reconstruction of Afghanistan and assistance to Afghan Government in capacity and institution building process.

            The participants also visited the project site of the proposed Deh Mazang Public Park where they were briefed by the Mayor of Kabul and other officials of the Municipality.

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