Your Location: Statements / General Assembly / 53rd Session / Oct. 29, 1998
At the outset, let me thank the Secretary-General of the United Nations for his report on the issue of " Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization" and also extend my sincere appreciation to H.E. Mr. Onder Ozar the Secretary-General of Economic Cooperation Organization, and his colleagues for their endeavors for strengthening the Secretariat of ECO and expansion of cooperation with regional, multilateral and international bodies and organizations, in particular the United Nations System.
Mr. President,
What seems to be an undeniable fact of our collective life today is the process of globalization which has, for the past decade or so, made itself felt to different degree and forms and in different arenas of the national life of societies. We are all cognizant of the fact that powerful transnational forces are at work reshaping the key features of world markets in capital, goods, services, labor and technology. Likewise, we are aware that the twin process of globalization and liberalization have expanded and deepened the mutual interdependence of societies, which have, in turn, increased the potentialities for international interaction and cooperation. In such a global environment that real world is perceived as increasingly borderless, creation of regional economic groupings is a real approach by developing countries to integrate themselves smoothly in the world economy. In fact by lowering tariff and other trade barriers and elimination of impediments to the capital flow in the regional grouping arrangements, developing countries prepare themselves and establish necessary capacities for integration in the world economy and addressing existing and future global challenges.
The main objectives of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), which was established primarily in 1985 and currently its membership includes ten countries, are removal of trade barriers within ECO region, expansion of intra and inter-regional trade and ensuring gradual and smooth integration of the economies of the ECO Member States in the world economy and their participation in the globalization process. The situation of ECO member states and their existing domestic socio-economic conditions necessitate extension of cooperation for utilizing their potentials and realization of opportunities with all international and multilateral bodies, in particular the United Nations System. At the very center of the region's potential are its oil and gas reserves and rich mineral resource which provide all the ingredients for a sound industrial base. The region has also considerable agricultural potential with its vast lands accommodating both live-stock and grain production. Economic, social and environmental challenges in the region are also enormous. All new members of the ECO are at the stage of transition from central planning to market-oriented economies. Since these states are also land-locked countries, strengthening the transit infrastructure at the regional level is an urgent need for expansion of trade, increasing investment opportunities and their integration at the world economy. Protection of the environment, in particular in the Caspian Sea, Oral Sea and some other regions in the Central Asia, are among the major challenges before littoral states and concerned countries in the Organization. The region also continues to be one of the most vulnerable regions to illicit cultivation and production , trafficking and consumption of narcotic drugs.
We are of the firm belief that the United Nations System as a multi-dimensional mechanism should play an effective role in the process of strengthening the ECO to a more prosperous and functional regional organization. The United Nations funds and programs and Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific have increased their consultation and cooperation with ECO and its associated bodies to assist its member states in capacity building which enable them to address these challenges. The United Nations Development Program has also contributed to the capacity-building of the ECO secretariat; as well as to trade efficiency, economic cooperation and resource complementarities among ECO member states, through bilateral and trilateral cooperation mechanism. The cooperation between the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and ECO is quite extensive, particularly in sharing analytical and technical information and ideas, expanding relations among their subsidiary bodies in different fields, as well as collaboration on the issues of transit and transportation and other related matters. Other United Nations funds and programs have also been engaged in cooperation and consultation in the areas such as population, food security, agricultural and industrial development and controlling narcotic drugs.
Mr. President,
Despite these admirable endeavors, the demands for promoting such cooperation at regional level are high. The restructuring of the Economic Cooperation Organization requires the assistance of the Specialized Agencies and other Organizations and programs of the United Nations System, and of the relevant international financial institutions. These contributions should be geared towards promoting socio-economic infrastructure of the member states of the ECO. The opportunities for cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, energy, environment, industry and agriculture are undeniably vast and need no further elaboration.
Mr. President, The major challenge for economic prosperity and sustainable development of the region is outside pressures for reshaping the rational economic relations among regional countries and their commercial relations with the rest of the world. Viable and feasible routes for export of oil and raw materials have been halted by outside pressure which would inevitably result in very expensive substituting routes with adverse environmental effects . These policies adversely affect the regional cooperation and will hinder the efforts of regional countries for expeditious integration in the world economy.
I can not conclude Mr. President, without referring to
the menace of illicit cultivation and trafficking of narcotic drugs
in the region. We are of the view that intensive regional cooperation
to combat this hazardous problem is vital for socio-economic advancement and
human development in the region. The establishment of a Drug Control
Coordination Unit in the ECO is a positive step towards realization of this
objective. In this context cooperation among the ECO and United Nations International
Drug Control Program and other intergovernmental and international organizations
specially through supporting transit states in their efforts to halt the inflow
and trafficking of illicit drugs to consuming countries is imperative. Moreover,
the role of the United Nations respective bodies in helping states
to address socio-economic and human development challenges resulted from drug
menace in the region, should be strengthened.
Let me Mr. President, close my statement by expressing
our wish for the adoption of the draft resolution on " Cooperation between
the United Nations
and the Economic Cooperation Organization " by a unanimous decision of
this August Assembly.
Thank You.