Tehran, April 20 (AZERTAC). Successful continuation of national leader Heydar Aliyev`s development strategy by President Ilham Aliyev is strengthening Azerbaijan`s international positions.

Azerbaijan is going to chair the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) this year. ECO Secretary General Mohammad Yahya Maroofi answered Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency`s (AZERTAC) questions on the relevant topic and other issues.

- Mr. Secretary General, your organization has realized a number of international economic projects in recent years. What kind of projects are going to be realized in the near future?

- As you know, 2012 will be the significance year for Azerbaijan in the ECO area. Azerbaijan is going to take over ECO chairmanship this year. So, it`s important the Azerbaijani people to become more familiar with ECO`s activity.

20 years have passed since establishment of the ECO. A favorable groundwork was laid for expansion of economic and trade cooperation during this period. Management structures and strategic programs were created in transport, trade, engineering, tourism, agricultural, healthcare, environmental spheres, drug trafficking and fight against organized crime. Successful regional cooperation creates a good basis for establishment of relations in the fields of trade, transport, finance and communication, and strengthening infrastructure. ECO`s main goal of realizing economic cooperation projects is to expand regional ties. We have important projects in these areas.

- What can you say about the Republic of Azerbaijan?

- Azerbaijan is an important country in the region. We welcome Azerbaijan`s activity which contributes to the regional processes as an active member of the organization. I want to speak of Azerbaijan`s unexampled economic contributions as ECO is an economic organization.

Azerbaijan is a rapidly developing economy. We are well informed on the dynamic development and potential of this country. Azerbaijan has successfully gone through the transition period and achieved great results in GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth, poverty reduction, industrialization, agro-reforms areas.

The other important factor is Azerbaijan`s rich energy resources. Tourism is also a significant sector for Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani government pays great attention to the development of tourism and industry. Azerbaijan will become a tourism hub of the region in the near future. Azerbaijan is a country which accurately defines strategic development targets and effectively uses resources.

- What is you opinion on Azerbaijan`s role and activity in the ECO?

- Azerbaijan is an active ECO member which plays a significant role in various programs and projects of the organization. I want to thank to the Azerbaijani government for this. Azerbaijan actively took partk in ECO`s varios projects since joining the organization. Moreover, Azerbaijan hosted a number of ECO events including high level meetings. The ninth ECO Heads of State Summit Meeting in 2006, 16th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, ECO Health Ministers meeting in 2010 and other high level meetings were held in Baku. This shows that Azerbaijan is interested in ECO`s activity. The 12th Summit of ECO and the 20th meeting of Council of Foreign Ministers will be held in Baku at the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev this year. ECO chairmanship will be transferred to Azerbaijan at the 12th Summit.

Azerbaijan also applied for membership in the ECO`s Trade and Development Bank. I`m sure that the effectiveness of the Bank will increase after Azerbaijan`s joining the organization. Azerbaijan is one of the four partners of ECO project for online money transfer system.

- What is your point of view on ECO`s structure and geographical prospects?

- ECO is an area of great strategic importance. It is located in the center of “North-South” and “East-West” corridors. 57 percent of Trans-Asian Railway network passes through ECO region. 35 percent of Asian railway network is in the ECO member states. The aim of ECO is to improve the living standards, ensure peace and develop the economy of the member countries. The organization offers a platform for discussion of trade and investment development.

ECO was the successor of Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD), founded in 1964. It was founded by Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey and named Economic Cooperation Organization after 1985 after Iranian revolution. In 1992 after the fall of the USSR, the ECO expanded to include seven new members, namely Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The organization`s population reached 430 million, and the area eight million square kilometers.

The structure of the organization was developed and expanded. For the further development ECO established a group of outstanding persons. The aim is to prepare advices for more effective operation of the organization. According to the 25th item of Istanbul declaration the group started its work with investigating and overlooking the organization`s work, and to prepare proposals for the 20th meeting of Ministerial Council meeting which will be held in Baku this year. These proposals will improve dynamism and effectiveness of the organization. Today Iraq and Qatar establish relations with ECO by attending the organizations` meetings. Iraq announced its desire to join ECO.

Sabir Shaktakhti

AZERTAC Special correspondent in Tehran