Tehran to host ECO oil and energy ministers

TEHRAN,June 24(MNA) - Oil and energy ministers from the ten countries of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) will meet in Tehran on Monday to discuss issues such as creating a special economic zone and facilitating trade and financial transactions among the member states. The energy charter of the ECO is planned to be unveiled in the meeting. During the 3-day event, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi is scheduled to hold separate meetings with his counterparts from Pakistan, Turkey and Afghanistan. The ECO is an intergovernmental regional organization established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey, which provides a platform to promote economic, technical and cultural cooperation among member states. The organization was expanded in 1992 to include seven new members, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.