THE 10th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization held in Tehran ended on a positive note with all the member states agreeing to create a free trade area in the ECO region by 2015. The desire to place this at top priority must have been prompted by the global financial crisis and its fallout on ECO members. While President Asif Zardari, who was there to attend the moot, emphasized the need for greater harmony and integration among the member states, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad rightly suggested that the threats posed by the world financial crunch be turned into an opportunity through increasing trade activity in the region. Meanwhile, it is also heartening to see the organization taking on the character of an international forum where leaders from around the world get an opportunity to articulate their concerns. The startling disclosure by President Hamid Karzai that Afghanistan was the centre of opium production and ECO's positive response by promising to crack down on drug and human trafficking, for instance, highlights the importance it is assuming. Likewise the consensus on the part of the participants that the menace of terrorism needs to be fought in all its forms and manifestations, and that they would come closer for the realization of that goal, indicates that the organization is moving in the right direction. However, concurrently the member states should also see to it that whatever is agreed, gets implemented in both letter and in spirit. As ill luck would have it, projects like IPI and TAPI remain in limbo merely on account of some ticklish issues that should have been settled long ago. Likewise, progress on a number of other ventures has been stalled owing to lack of understanding. Mere rhetoric would hardly suffice. If the goal of free trade is to be achieved, then only a more proactive role would do. One hopes that the agreement by Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan to hold regular sessions would serve as a catalyst for regional cooperation.