The ECO Secretary General, H.E. Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour attended the virtually organized launching ceremony of the International Year of Peace and Trust on January 29, 2021. The event was scheduled in line with the UN Resolution No. 73/338 adopted on September 12, 2019.
While congratulating the honorable President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the people and the Government of Turkmenistan as main sponsor of this important UN Resolution and felicitating the relevant UN bodies for successfully facilitating this momentous move, the ECO Secretary General acknowledged the significance of this timely initiative. He underlined the positive aspects of the intended UN roadmap to mobilize the international community for creating a culture of peace and trust. Dr. Soleimanpour noted that an expanded multilateralism coupled with a consolidated approach for extended integration could play an instrumental role to help prevail the culture of peace and trust amongst the nations. He stated that the regional integration is an essential instrument to back such process and particularly if applied from an economic forum. Within this context, he cited the establishment of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). He added that the people in the ECO region enjoy an amicable neighborhood, living in a traditional environment of peace, harmony and co-existence.
The event’s opening remarks were made by H.E. Mr. Rashid Meredov, honourable Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan. Other speakers included H.E. Mr. Jeyhun Bayramov, honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Azerbaijan; H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkؤ±r, President of the United Nations General Assembly; H.E. Mr. Altay Cengizer, President of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); H.E. Mr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO); H.E. Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director General United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG); and the relevant Representatives of the member countries, UN bodies and other regional and international organizations.
