Kazakh Foreign Minister Tokayev Criticizes E.C.O.

ISTANBUL - Kazakh Foreign Minister Kasum Comert Tokayev said on Monday that Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) could not cope with the chronic disease which exists in many organizations, adding ''this disease is the great difference between the things that are said and the things that are done by the organization.''
Addressing the ECO summit, Tokayev said that Kazakhstan asks for support to regional cooperation and that the principles of cooperation is reviving the ECO and bringing prosperity to member countries.
ECO continuously developed its relations and it recorded progress in regional cooperation when its ten-year activities are taken into consideration.
''There are still some shortcomings, our organization is not a homogeneous one. Our countries are at different political and economic development levels. There are apparent differences in their economies,'' he said.
Tokayev noted that the organization should review its strategy, adding ''we must ensure cooperation in this region, we must mobilize financial and technical sources in an effective way in order to reach our goals.''
Tokayev said that ECO countries have a population more than 370 millions and these people have to adapt themselves to the new globalization process, adding that the construction of the regional pipelines should be done in a proper way in order to overcome the escalating energy crisis. He said that the sustainable development of the countries depends on these pipelines.
Tokayev noted that there is no access to the sea and markets in many ECO member countries.
Tokayev said that they supported proposals of Iran and Pakistan and also the proposals on increase in trade volume and enlargement of free trade zone.
Many efficient programs had to be developed especially in fields of agriculture and tourism as well as projects on transportation, communication and trade, Tokayev noted.
Tokayev stated that future of regional cooperation was mainly depended on economic development of Afghanistan.
This could be achieved by concerted efforts, active role of Kazakhstan and implementation of international aid programs, Tokayev pointed out.
Tokayev said that they supported Afghan President Karzai and wish him success in reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Kazakhstan also supported Iran's initiative and Turkey's proposal, Tokayev noted.
Stating that Kazakhstan was determined to support Afghanistan's reconstruction, Tokayev said that however, drug problem in that country had not been totally solved yet.
Tokayev pointed out that this problem jeopardized security of Central Asian countries.
In that context, they were pleased that a U.N. official was attending the meeting and supported a cooperation between the U.N. and the organization, Tokayev added.