برگزاری چهارمین نشست وزیران ایکو با حضور هیات امارت اسلامی

At the opening of the ECO Council of Ministers meeting, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) as a bridge connecting regional countries.

Emphasizing the need for increased cooperation among ECO member states, Pezeshkian called for the rapid finalization of the proposed ECO Police force. He stressed that enhanced collaboration is vital, particularly as ECO members face external interference from foreign actors.

Pezeshkian stated: “The countries of Central Asia, the Caucasus, South and West Asia, the Persian Gulf, and ECO members must establish and implement a cohesive, stability-driven, and development-oriented security architecture.”

Iran’s Minister of Interior also highlighted the importance of leveraging the capacities of ECO member states, emphasizing that Iran’s foreign policy focuses on strengthening ties with neighboring countries.

Eskandar Momeni added that participating countries share a unified perspective on current issues and challenges.

Momeni said: “The speeches of honorable ministers and senior officials clearly showed how closely aligned our views are.”

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the meeting focused on enhancing cooperation in the fight against organized crime, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, and border security.

ECO Secretary-General Asad Majid Khan emphasized the importance of continuing regular meetings and fostering coordination among member states. He stated, “The meeting stressed the need for ministerial-level gatherings to be held regularly, and discussed appointing local liaisons in member countries to strengthen security cooperation.”

On the sidelines of the ECO meeting, Ibrahim Sadr, Senior Deputy Minister for Security of the Ministry of Interior of Afghanistan, also held discussions with his Turkish counterpart on expanding bilateral cooperation.

The Economic Cooperation Organization, known as ECO, was established 52 years ago by Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan. With the addition of seven more countries, including Afghanistan and Tajikistan, it now comprises 10 member states.