¡¡¡¡TEHRAN, Dec. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Environment ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) opened their first conference here on Sunday.

¡¡¡¡During the three-day meeting, the environment forum will tackle issues such as bio-diversity and training to promote environment protection, according to the official Iranian news agency IRNA.

¡¡¡¡ECO formed in 1985 with Iran, Pakistan and Turkey as founding members. In November 1992, the organization was expanded to include Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan.

¡¡¡¡The current ministerial meeting is also attended by representatives from the United Nations Environmental Program, the United Nations Development Program, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

¡¡¡¡The meeting will end with a joint statement on regional environment cooperation, IRNA said. Enditem