Turkish FM in Tehran to attend ECO meeting

Ankara, March 9, IRNA – Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan arrived in the Iranian capital city early Monday morning to attend the 18th foreign ministerial meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

He is also to accompany Turkish President Abdullah Gul to the 10th ECO Summit to be held in Tehran on March 11.

Talking to reporters prior to his departure, he referred to ECO as a major regional organization.

Underlining the need for further activation of the organization, he stressed that Ankara has a positive approach towards ECO.

Turkey, as a founding member of this regional organization, attaches great importance to the ECO activities, he said, adding that the organization helps establish regional stability and welfare.

He added that ECO is a main platform to promote economic and trade cooperation among the regional states.

Babacan reiterated that he would review regional developments with his counterparts on the sidelines of the ECO meetings.

He added that the Tehran meeting would create appropriate opportunities for regional dialogue.

ECO was founded by Iran, Turkey and Pakistan in 1985 and its members reached 10 in 1992 after Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan joined it./end