Marmaray project for the whole region, says Turkish FM

TEHRAN - Anadolu Agency

The Marmaray connects the Economic Cooperation Organization (EOC) members with Europe, said Foreign Minister Davutoğlu (3rd L) during an EOC meeting. AA photo

The Marmaray project is not only a project for Turkey, but for all Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) members, said Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu during the 21st Foreign Ministerial Meeting of the ECO yesterday.

“The Marmaray connects the ECO countries with Europe, so it is a great success for the region,” he said.
He noted the whole region needs a well-established transportation system to enable countries in the region to maintain closer trade and economic links.

“As ECO members, we have a unique geostrategic position. We need to use our economic assets, rich natural sources and dynamic workforce for the good of our peoples,” he said.

Located 62 meters under the Bosphorus Strait, the Marmaray connects the European and Asian sides of Istanbul by rail for the first time.

ECO, an intergovernmental organization, involving seven Asian and three Eurasian states, as part of the South-central Asian Union, was founded by Turkey, Iran and Pakistan. ECO’s Charter was signed on March 15, 1995 in Islamabad, Pakistan. It provides a platform to discuss ways to improve development and promote trade and investment opportunities.Foreign ministers from Turkey, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan, as well as the prime minister’s advisor from Pakistan, Turkmenistan’s economy minister, Kazakhstan’s deputy foreign minister and ambassadors from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan attended the event.