The 30th meeting of the ECO Regional Planning Council (RPC) was attended by the representatives of ten member countries at the Secretariat of the Economic Cooperation Organization.
According to ECI public relations, Sarver Bakhti, the ECI President, participated at the 30th ECO Regional Planning Council meeting held on Tuesday, January 14, 2020. Delivering his speech at the event, Bakhti said he is honored to have been selected by the member countries as the 11th president of the ECO Cultural Institute and appreciated the member countries for trusting him. He also appreciated the efforts made by the previous presidents of the Institute for the promotion of the institution's status through organizing various cultural programs.
Referring to the Treaty of Izimir, the ECI president said that the Treaty, as the basic document of the Economic Cooperation Organization, emphasizes the role of culture in creating peace and stability and economic growth in the region.
Sarver Bakhti further pointed to the role of the culture and common heritage in the region in fostering national identity and the feeling of belonging to one another and said: "The fact that the ECO Cultural Institute is the oldest among the ECO specialized agencies is due to the same common ground".
He continued his remarks saying that over the past 25 years, the Institute has been working to develop cooperation among the peoples of the region through organizing a variety of programs and events, and has left a major impact on cultural relations between scientists, artists and intellectuals of the region.
He then added that the collaboration of the member countries is the main supporting element for the Institute and that they have similar and equal share in the Institute's plans and programs. "I, therefore, take this opportunity and invite the member countries to take active part in the Institute's joint programs", he said.
Concluding his remarks, Sarver Bakhti invited those countries that have not yet ratified ECI Charter to join it as full members. He also briefed the meeting on his working priorities and said ECI is ready to collaborate with other ECO Specialized Agencies to organize joint programs and achieve common goals."
The Regional Planning Council is held once a year and is participated by the ECO Secretary General, the ambassadors of the ten member countries, the heads of the ECO Specialized Agencies and representatives of the ten member countries to develop practical plans to achieve the goals of the organization, to review previous plans, and to propose the establishment of regional institutions.