TEHRAN- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has noted that Tehran unconditionally backs the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), calling it the most effective and advanced mechanism of economic cooperation in the region.

Raisi stated that Tehran is committed to raising more funds and effort for the advancement of cooperation under the Asian political and economic intergovernmental body during his speech to the 16th ECO summit on Thursday, which took place in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

“Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran, with the support and cooperation of many independent countries and its international partners, is working to establish a just system on the basis of respect and deepening multilateral convergence,” he stressed. 

Raisi went on to add, “The positive trend of cooperation in the ECO, and the growing interest of member states in enhancing relations within the framework of the ECO, strengthen our long-standing belief that the organization is still the most relevant and mature economic cooperation mechanism in our region.”

The Iranian president emphasized that the ECO has a unique capability built on solid foundations such as growing populations, great natural resources, and, most importantly, an evolving culture.

In 1985, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey founded the ECO, which has its headquarters in Tehran. The ten-member organization’s primary goal is to advance cultural, technological, and economic collaboration among its members.

President Raisi also said, “The firm will of all ECO members to create a safe, stable, and prosperous region and the resolve to play an effective role in international arenas are valuable assets shared by the member states. International systems are now more than any other time in the contemporary period exposed to change.”

“We firmly believe this change must be aimed at boosting the discourse of justice and freedom from the system of domination and coercion. Multilateralism has now clearly lined up against unbridled unilateralism,” he continued. 

“I would like to reiterate the unconditional support of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the ECO organization and its activities. We are determined to mobilize more resources and energy for the development of cooperation in ECO.”

Raisi made a brief remark before his official speech at the meeting in which he denounced the crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people in the beleaguered Gaza Strip.

“Today, supporting Palestine and the oppressed people of Gaza is the standard of honor for countries, and the governments that support the Israeli regime are the most dishonorable on earth.”

The Iranian president paused for a little while after concluding his initial statement, honoring the hundreds of Palestinian women and children who were killed in Gaza since October 7.

He concluded as saying, “In the end, I would like to reiterate the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the ECO organization and its activities. We are determined to mobilize more resources and energy for the development of cooperation in ECO. During the term of the presidency of ECO in 2024, we will design plans and implement them in consultation with the members and the secretariat. I hope that the next meeting of ECO Foreign Ministers at the end of 2024, hosted by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will witness good decisions. Other ministers of specialized fields of the member countries also need to hold their meetings without interruption and continuously so that necessary and timely decisions are taken to advance cooperation.”