Stating that the emerging economies and developing countries are more capable than ever to play a role in the foundation of the new world order, the President stated, "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".
Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, at the 16th summit of ECO, which is held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, announced the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran to ECO and its activities and emphasised that we are determined to mobilise more resources and energy for the improvement of cooperation under ECO, and stated, "The positive trend of cooperation in ECO, the increasing interest of member countries in strengthening regional relations in the form of ECO, strengthens our long-standing and internal belief that ECO is still the most relevant and mature economic cooperation mechanism in our region; A rare capacity that is built on solid foundations such as a huge and growing population, abundant natural and energy resources, a unique geographical location and above all, a culture that breeds and a privileged common identity".
At the end of the first part of his speech, which was related to the crimes of the Zionist Regime and in support of the oppressed and authoritative people of Gaza, Dr Raisi stopped the speech for a few minutes and asked the audience to recite Fatiha for the peace of the souls of the martyrs of Gaza.
President's speech at the ECO Summit is as follows:
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
My Dear brother, Mr Shavkat Mirziyoyev,
Honourable President of Uzbekistan,
Esteemed Presidents,
Prime Ministers and high-ranking officials;
Being in Uzbekistan and meeting with noble and hospitable statesmen and people of this land has always been a source of joy for me. At the beginning of my speech, I would like to congratulate the presidency of Mr Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Uzbekistan, on the 16th Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) summit and sincerely thank him for hosting this important meeting.
I would also like to honour the presence of the honourable Presidents, Prime Ministers and other respected officials of the ECO member countries in this important regional meeting, and I also thank Mr Khusrav Noziri, the honourable Secretary General of ECO, and his colleagues.
Dear audience,
We have gathered at a time when for more than a month, the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip have been subjected to the most severe bombings by the usurping and racist Israeli regime, and so far, more than 10,000 Palestinians, including more than 4,300 children and 2,800 women, have been martyred in the biggest genocide of the century in Gaza! And during this time, the existing international system, including the UN Security Council; is powerless and has failed towards this amount of barbaric crimes of the Zionist regime.
The terrible crimes of the Zionist regime in the attack on hospitals, schools, universities and the Jabalia camp, which resulted in the martyrdom and wounding of hundreds of sick, injured and defenceless and homeless refugees, show the aggressive nature of this regime and are a clear example of genocide and crimes against humanity. The child-killing army of the Zionist regime, with the support and with the political, financial, weapons and intelligence support of the United States and some European countries, has kept its war machine on against the defenceless people of Palestine. The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the all-round support of the West, especially the American government, to the Zionist invasion of Gaza as the reason for the continuation of this crime. Now it is clear to the whole world that the US is a partner in the crimes of the Zionists and that the hands of the US are stained with the blood of the Palestinian nation.
Demonstrations of millions of different nations around the world show that Palestine is in the heart of nations. Today, supporting Palestine and the oppressed people of Gaza is the standard of honour for countries, and the governments that support the Israeli regime are the most dishonourable and despicable creatures on earth. Now the continuation of killing and crime has made all free people impatient and its dimensions and consequences will not be limited to the West Asia region.
Currently, stopping the attacks and delivering humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza are among the most critical priorities. We expect all freedom and justice seekers around the world to use all their capacity to stop these crimes. We believe that the escalation of crimes by the Zionist regime will complicate the situation in Palestine and the region. The Islamic Republic of Iran insists on stopping the attacks and killings as soon as possible, facilitating the sending of international aid to Gaza, and lifting the blockade of Gaza.
)At this moment, the President stopped his speech at this summit for a few minutes out of respect for the thousands of women and children who were martyred in Gaza and asked the attendees to recite a Fatiha for the peace of their souls).
Dear Mr President,
Dear audience;
Since the previous meeting of ECO leaders in Ashgabat in November 2021, we have witnessed the continuation of regional cooperation in various fields. Our evaluation of the cooperation process is positive and we see the increasing interest of the member countries in strengthening regional relations in the form of ECO. This process reinforces our long-standing and internal belief that ECO remains the most relevant and mature economic cooperation mechanism in our region. The unique capacity of cooperation in ECO is built on solid foundations such as a huge and growing population, abundant natural and energy resources, unique geographical location and above all, a productive culture and a privileged common identity.
The firm will of all ECO members to create a safe, stable, prosperous region and to play an effective role in international systems is a valuable common asset for all of us, including ECO. International systems are now more than any other time in the contemporary period, exposed to transformation and change. We firmly believe that this change must be aimed at strengthening the discourse of justice and freedom from the system of domination and coercion. Multilateralism has now clearly lined up against unbridled unilateralism.
Emerging economies and developing countries are more capable than ever to play a role in the foundation of the new world order. The network of regional and multilateral economic cooperation between countries can help in this matter. In this regard, without a doubt, ECO and its cooperation mechanisms in our region have an undeniable capacity, and it is necessary to devote extra effort and energy to take advantage of this capacity. In this regard, and to help the cause of reform-seeking countries, the Islamic Republic of Iran has recently become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and also the BRICS.
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. In this direction, the Islamic Republic of Iran is trying to play a more effective role in establishing security and creating common group interests by taking the policy of neighbourhood and convergence, and actively participating in regional and extra-regional mechanisms.
Dear Mr President,
Honourable audience,
In the previous meeting of heads in Ashgabat, I listed some necessities that lead to the improvement of the level of cooperation in the ECO and the national and regional development of all of us, as well as the promotion of the rank and dignity of this organisation in regional and international relations; Necessities such as further liberalisation of intra-regional trade, strengthening and completing regional transportation networks, developing cooperation in the field of transit and energy trade, taking advantage of the benefits and privileges of the digital and knowledge-based economy, as well as establishing a new financial system for economic exchanges in the region.
All these necessities are still important and need attention. My strong suggestion is that the secretariat and the members seriously focus on these needs and include the results of the agreements in the review process of "2025 ECO Vision" which is scheduled to be done next year. The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to share its capacities in these areas, including energy, transportation, technology and other areas of interest to member countries, in line with this good and collective benefit. One of the areas that is still waiting for the attention and serious action of ECO members is the area of intra-regional trade. It is expected that an important and effective step will be taken to implement the guidelines contained in the "ECO Vision 2025" regarding the establishment of a free trade area in the ECO, as well as the implementation of the Limited Preferential Trade Agreement (known as ECOTA) after two decades. The smooth flow of intra-regional trade is definitely one of the prerequisites for successful economic convergence and interactions in the ECO. On this basis, the Islamic Republic of Iran, which will hold the rotating presidency of ECO in 2024, has chosen its theme "ECO region; powerful and resilient through the development of intra-regional trade". We expect all member countries to cooperate with the Islamic Republic of Iran in order to take effective steps towards the realisation of this slogan.
Fortunately, cooperation in the field of environment has gained more luck from ECO members, which we take as a good omen and we are waiting for practical steps to be taken. The fact is that the origin of many environmental challenges in the world and consequently in our region have been developed countries; Climate change being one of them. No part of the world, including countries that did not play a role in the emergence of this phenomenon, are immune from its devastating consequences, including floods and natural disasters, droughts, water shortages, and dust storms. We welcome the holding of the meeting of ECO environment ministers on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference and we expect that this meeting, in addition to greater coordination at the level of the ECO region, will attract financial resources, technical assistance and needed technologies through existing international mechanisms. We also support the establishment of the "ECO Environmental Consultative Mechanism", which is supposed to be a place for exchange of opinions and consultations between policy makers and scientists and researchers of the ECO region.
Dear Mr President,
Dear colleagues,
I should mention the issue of Afghanistan as an important country in the neighbourhood of the Islamic Republic of Iran and one of the main members of ECO. We are still waiting for an inclusive, responsible and responsive government with the effective presence of all ethnic and religious groups in Afghanistan. Of course, as we have already announced, ECO must implement a program to support Afghanistan in helping the noble people of that country and helping in the reconstruction and economic development of that country. The recent earthquake has also added to the difficulties and problems of the honourable people in large parts of this country. As always, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to send humanitarian aid and is ready to transfer aid from other countries and regions of the world to that country.
Dear Mr President,
In the end, I would like to reiterate the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the ECO organisation and its activities. We are determined to mobilise 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 specialised 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.
Dear colleagues, it will be an honor to be your host in one of the meetings of ECO leaders in Tehran .
In the end, I would like to end my speech with the name and memory of Palestine:
Hail to Palestine.
Hail to Gaza and its oppressed children.
Hail to the Palestinian resistance
Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings