Gul: "The eco can turn the global crisis into an opportunity"

President Abdullah Gul, along with Foreign Minister Ali Babacan; yesterday attended the 10th summit meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). Addressing the meeting, Gul said that the ECO can turn the global economic crisis into an opportunity. Stating that the crisis' effects on commerce, trade and transportation can be lessened by using the member states' rich natural and human resources and coordinated economic policy, he also stressed that energy cooperation among ECO member states is a priority for the organization. Gul urged the ECO member countries to do everything necessary to cut customs tariffs and thus boost trade cooperation between regional states. Gul reiterated that Turkey is striving to strengthen regional economic cooperation as well as ensure peace and stability in the region. He also called for expanded transportation and energy cooperation between ECO members to help bring stability to the region. During his stay in Tehran, Gul also held bilateral talks with Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zerdari.