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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A Ministerial meeting of the Regional Cooperation and Development Council (RCD) opened in Lahore, Pakistan, on Thursday (29 January).

The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, officially opened the meeting which constitutes the nineteenth session of the RCD Council.

He extended greetings to Turkish Foreign Minister, Ishan Sabri Caglangil and Iran's Foreign Minister, Dr. Abbas Khalatbary, who are representing their countries at the council meeting.

In his address, Dr. Khalatbary said the need for cooperation among nations at the regional level was just as important as the need for international cooperation.

He said his Government was constantly seeking ways of "deepening and expanding" cooperation within its region.

Mr. Caglangil told the meeting that Turkey, Pakistan and Iran had a common heritage that was the basis for cooperation.

However, he added that the achievements of the RCD Council had fallen "short of expectations".

The original aim of the organisation was to promote the welfare of the peoples of the three countries through a pooling of economic resources.

This, according to Mr. Caglangil, had not been "fulfilled to the degree that was hoped".

Mr. Caglangil expressed the hope that greater progress would be made in the future.