Talabani says Iraq’s participation in ECO meeting significant

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi President Jalal al-Talabani described Iraq’s participation in the Tehran-based Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit as a significant starting point for stronger relations with the organization. “The distorted policy adopted by the former regime has grown Iraq’s need for reconstruction in all fields,” Talabani said in his speech at the inauguration ceremony of the 10 th summit of the organization, according to a statement published on the official web site of the Iraqi presidency. The summit was held on Wednesday (March 11) with the participation of the presidents of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Talabani, the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Khalifa al-Thani; the Syrian vice president, Farouk al-Shara were guests of honor at the summit. The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is an intergovernmental international organization involving ten Asian nations. It provides a platform to discuss ways to improve development and promote trade, and investment opportunities. The common objective is to establish a single market for goods and services, much like the European Union. SS (S)/SR 1