TEHRAN, Mar 12 (AFP): Members of the regional Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) meeting at a summit in Tehran Wednesday urged the rapid rebuilding of violence-wracked Afghanistan and the Gaza Strip.
"The ECO urges its members to increase the speed of reconstruction in Afghanistan," said an official statement released at the end of the summit.
It said the ECO 'sympathises' with the people of Gaza following the three- week Israeli war on the impoverished Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory in December-January that left 1,300 Palestinians dead and 13 Israelis.
"(ECO) strongly urges the international community to prevent such a human tragedy from happening again, to bring the situation there to normal and to get access to Gaza in order to provide humanitarian aid."
The one-day summit of ECO -- a regional organisation founded in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey -- focused on the global financial crisis and its impact on the region.
It was attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari and Turkish PresidentAbdullah Gul, along with leaders of other members such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Syrian Vice President Faruq al-Shara also attended as guests.
In his opening speech, Iran's hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused the United States and other world powers of creating an 'unfair' economic order which triggered the global financial crisis.
"Capitalism as a system has failed. The economic order is unfair and irresponsible. Unfortunately nations of the world have to pay the cost of inefficient policies of certain nations," he said.
Ahmadinejad, known for his anti-US tirades, called on ECO members to overcome the 'threats posed by the financial crisis and transform them into 'opportunities'.
"The threat of unfair international order can be changed to create a safe economic situation for our countries" by developing trade between ECO states, Ahmadinejad said.
Ahmadinejad himself has come under fire in Iran over his expansionary economic policies that have fuelled inflation.
Karzai urged ECO members to help Kabul fight drug smuggling.
"I have to accept the bitter truth that my country is the centre of opium production," he said.
