(ECO)
ASHKABAD - Turkish Interior Minister Besir Atalay attended the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) 2nd Interior Ministers' Meeting held in Ashkhabad on Tuesday.
Following the meeting, Atalay told reporters that ECO member countries debated how to fight against illicit drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism, international organized crime and border security.
Atalay said that fight against terrorism and illicit drug was an important factor in economic development of regional countries.
Atalay said that Turkey, as a country which suffered much from terror, paid a special attention to this platform. He added that security departments of ECO member countries aimed to set up an information bank to increase cooperation among themselves.
Atalay also said that ECO 3rd Interior Ministers' Meeting would be held in Ankara.
He said that Turkey brought illegal migration issue onto agenda of the meeting. Atalay said that illegal migration started from Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan and end up at the eastern border of Turkey before going up to European countries. He added that the ministers discussed measures to be taken regarding this issue.
Atalay will meet Turkish businessmen in Turkish Embassy in Ashkhabad this evening.
(GC-ULG)