(WITH Annex-I containing Amendments as approved at the 10^th Meeting of the

ECO Council of Ministers held at Tehran on June 8, 2000)

PREAMBLE

In view of the main principles visualized in Article II of the Treaty of Izmir with the objective to consolidate cultural affinities and spiritual and fraternal ties that bind the people of the Member States through social and cultural channels of thought and action,

Recognizing the importance of mass consciousness of the common cultural heritage and its impact on enrichment and development of cooperation in all aspects in the Region,

Whereas adoption of suitable measures shall be primarily oriented towards promoting goodwill and harmony amongst all classes of the people of the Region,

In conformity with the endorsement of the Heads of the ECO Member States regarding the revival of the ECO Cultural Institute as stated in the Istanbul Declaration, the former R.C.D. Cultural Institute which was active for 17 years from 1966 till 1983 is revitalized under the name of “ECO Cultural Institute” in order to achieve the foregoing objectives according to the following Articles:

ARTICLE-I

Name/Aims and Functions

The ECO Cultural Institute hereinafter mentioned as the “Institute” shall function as an initiating, coordinating, financing, and monitoring agency within the framework of ECO for the promotion of the following activities:-

1. The foster and promote closer association and cooperation among the people of the Region, in general, and among mass media, intellectuals, artists, in particular.
2. To carry out researches in the common cultural heritage of the countries of the Region for the purpose of strengthening the awareness of their indivisible unity and for bringing out those traditions which bind the people of the Region together.
3. To publish the result of their studies in the form of books, monographs and periodicals in English, and in the languages of the Region (as far as possible).
4. To publish selected works of the eminent contemporary writers, painters, photographers, and etc. of the Member States in English and in the languages of the
5. To make arrangements for the teaching of the languages of the Region in the Institute and its branches if possible, as well as to adopt effective measures for promotion of these languages in the universities and other languages institutes of the
6. To coordinate cultural exchange programmes such as visits of scholars, teachers, writers, artists, guest-speakers, eminent personalities, students, youth and members of the women’s
7. To promote cooperation amongst the universities and other cultural institutions of the
8. To organize programmes of exchange of academics in the field of
9. To host literary educational and cultural functions and exhibitions reflecting the cultural and social life of the people of the member
10. To organize exhibitions of folk, traditional and modern
11. To undertake the responsibility of ECO Awards in the field of literature and fine arts. The programme shall be carried out annually and the modality for the ECO Award shall be worked out by the
12. To conduct and coordinate the programmes of the ECO Cultural Week.
13. To make arrangements for the exchange of documentary feature films and radio/TV package programmes related to the life, customs and social activities of the Region.
14. To promote cooperation in the field of history, demography, anthropology, archaeology and preservation and restoration of the common cultural, architectural heritage of the
15. To establish network connection among cultural centres, national libraries and museums of the region to exchange books, manuscripts and valuable pieces of arts, slides/microfilms of the old
16. To exchange training programmes for scholars in reparation and immunization of the old books and manuscripts.
17. To establish and expand libraries so as to provide books, magazines, newspapers and audio-visual material and equipment mainly related to the life and culture of the people of the Member States and to provide reproduction facilities for the benefit of the scholars, teachers, journalists,
18. To promote regional cooperation pertaining to the
19. To promote cooperation between the news agencies of the Region by means of establishing network connection among
20. To publish a quarterly journal in English and to the extent possible in national languages of the Region in local branches to and Farsi in Headquarters to:-
21. Promote further understanding amongst the people of the Region; focusing on literature, folklore, traditional music and national customs of the Member
22. Stimulate the interest of the people of the member countries to the existing cultural, educational and social problems of the
23. Disseminate the news of the cultural events convening in the Region such as conferences, seminars, congress,
24. To take any other necessary measures to promote deeper understanding and closer ties amongst the people of the Region through cultural

ARTICLE-II

Legal Status

The Institute, as an ECO specialized agency, shall have perpetual succession and common seal, and subject to the provisions of this constitution and in conformity with its own financial and staff regulations, shall carry out its programmes and conduct its affairs.

ARTICLE-III

Organs

1- Board of Trustees

The Institute shall have a Board of Trustees consisting of the following:

1. The Ministers of Culture or any other Minister responsible for cultural affairs of the Member States.
2. ECO Secretary General
3. President of the Institute
4. One eminent cultural personality from each Member State being assigned by the relative

The Board of Trustees shall be the principal policy and decision-making body of the Institute.

The Board of Trustees shall meet biennially/triennially by rotation in the national territories of the Member States.

2- The council of permanent representatives of ECI member states (ECI- CPR)

It comprises of Ambassadors/ Permanent Representatives of ECI member states. The ECO member states who have signed the Charter of ECO Cultural Institute may attend the meetings of the council as observers till the time they become accredited members. (Approved by 18^th CoM, 9 March 2009, Tehran & 4^th BoT, 21 March 2009, Mazarsharif, Afghanistan)

3- President

 The President of the Institute shall be nominated from amongst eminent dignitaries of the region in the cultural field and appointed by the ECO Council of Ministers on the proposal of the Board of Trustees, for a non-renewable term of three years by rotation and in alphabetical order. (Approved by 10^th CoM, Tehran, 8 JUNE 2000)

The President of the Institute shall be responsible for carrying the general policies and decisions of the Board of Trustees and taking appropriate measures for implementation of the approved programmes of the Institute.

4- Executive Director

 The conduct and management of the affairs of the Institute shall vest in an Executive Director who chairs the Executive Committee. The Executive Director shall be the national of the Member countries by rotation. His tenure of office shall be for four years extendable for 1 year on the proposal of the President and approval of the Board of Trustees or ECO Council of Ministers. (Approved by 10^th CoM, Tehran, 8 JUNE 2000)

In the absence of the president of ECI due to any reasons and other emergencies, the function and authorities of the president should be exercised by the executive director. The consent of ECI-CPR meeting is necessary for such transfer of functions and authorities. (Approved by 18^th CoM, 9 March 2009, Tehran & 4^th BoT 21 March 2009, Mazarsharif, Afghanistan)

5- Executive Committee

• The Executive Director shall  be assisted by cultural  experts preferably in different fields from the nationals of the Member States on an equal basis.
• The cultural experts shall form the Executive Committee and the number of the experts may vary according to the needs of the Institute.

6-Local Staff

 Local Staff consisting of administrative, secretarial, and lower employees must be nationals of the Member States but resident and locally recruited in Iran.

7-Additional Appointments

Subject to the approval of ECO Council of Ministers, the Institute may recruit on temporary basis such consultants or experts it may consider necessary for the efficient performance of its functions, on such terms and conditions as it may deem fit.

ARTICLE-IV

Headquarters/Branches

The Institute shall have its headquarters in Tehran. The Institute shall also have a branch (or coordination unit) in each Member State which will be established in accordance with the prevailing regulations of each Member State. The branches shall function in close cooperation with the Headquarters and facilitate the implementation of the approved programmes.

ARTICLE-V

Relations with ECO Organs

The Institute shall submit annual or periodic reports covering a review of the existing activities and future projects of the Institute for consideration and approval of the Member States through ECO Secretariat to the related Committee and ECO Councils.

The Institute according to the guidelines of the Board of Trustees shall prepare long-term programme of action to be approved by the Council of Ministers.

ARTICLE-VI

Relations with Other Organizations

The Institute shall be in close cooperation with cultural international organizations, as well as relevant governmental/non-governmental organizations/agencies of the Member States. Any cooperation agreement with aforementioned organizations/agencies shall be in accordance with the policy direction of competent ECO Councils.

ARTICLE-VII

Finance

The Institute shall have independent budget and funds for programmes and administration which consists of:-

1. Grant made by the Member States.
2. Donations and
3. Other

ARTICLE-VIII

Commencement

Following its approval by the ECO Council of Ministers, the Charter of the Institute will come into force for each country according to its ratification or approval procedure based on its national regulations.

ARTICLE-IX

Regulations

The Institute shall formulate its own financial and staff regulations as well as the rules of procedures which shall be approved by the ECO Council of Ministers and within one year of its operation.

ARTICLE-X

Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution, proposed either by a Member country or by the President of the Institute shall require the approval of the Board of Trustees and the Council of Ministers.

DONE AT Islamabad on this 15^th day of March in the year One Thousand

Nine Hundred and Ninety Five, in one single copy in English which shall remain deposited with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and duly certified copies shall be transmitted by that Government to all the signatory states within thirty days from today.