BAKU, Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan assumed Tuesday the rotating presidency of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Parliamentary Assembly.

Azerbaijan will work to improve the efficiency and operations of the ECO and strengthen the intra-parliamentary cooperation between member states, Azerbaijani Parliament spokeswoman Sahiba Gafarova said at the third General Conference of the ECO Parliamentary Assembly in the capital, Baku.

She said the country attaches importance to its ties and cooperation with the organization's member states.

Asserting that member states share a common history, culture and religion, Gafarova underlined the role of the parliamentary assembly in improving inter-state and inter-societal bonds.

She also reiterated the need for joint actions to eliminate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Azerbaijan has provided assistance to the countries most affected by the pandemic. Now we must be ready for the next steps,” she added.

The ECO, founded in 1985, is an intergovernmental regional organization that aims to promote sustainable economic development for its member states and the region as a whole.

Apart from founding members, Turkiye, Iran and Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan are the members of the organization.

*Written and contributed by Ahmet Gencturk in Ankara