The declaration of a parliamentary fraction to support the development of cultural relationships among ECO countries in the Islamic Consultative Assembly (ICA) was launched in a ceremony held on Tuesday May 22nd 2018 with the presence of a number of ICA members and President of ECO Cultural Institute.
Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Mazaheri, president of ECO Cultural Institute, in his speech at the meeting, welcomed the establishment of a fraction to support the development of ECO cultural relations in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, saying: "There is the greatest capacity of public diplomacy in various cultural and social spheres in the ECO Region which is hopped to be used upon the formation of the "ECO Fraction" in the Islamic Consultative Assembly.
He added: "presence of 170 MPs in the "ECO Fraction" will provide a fruitful basis to expand and deepen the activities of ECO Cultural Institute.
At the end of his speech, president of ECO Cultural Institute emphasized: "I hope that the esteemed ICA members will contribute ECO Cultural Institute more to achieve its comprehensive goals.
In his speech, Mr. Alizadeh, chairman of the ECO fraction in ICA, thanked Dr. Mazaheri for his concerns to revive the neglected capacities of ECO member states, saying: "Unfortunately, such basic capacity has been neglected in the past which is hopped to be explored on this occasion.
Referring to the prominence given by the Supreme Leader of Iran on using the capacity of the countries of the region in various cultural and economic spheres, he continued: "ECO Cultural Institute could be a platform to further promote regional cooperation."
It is worth noting that other participants including Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Ranjbarzadeh, Khatami, Amirabadi, Kabiri, Rezaee and Pouriafarani also in their speech expressed thanks to Dr. Mazaheri for the establishment of "ECO fraction" and offered possibilities to promote cooperation with ECO countries in various fields.
The ceremony ended in conducting group prayer and Iftar reception with the presence of MPs.