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Afghanistan dominates Shanghai Group meeting
Tags: SCO summit, SCO, Politics, World, Russia, Commentary
Denisova Olga
May 11, 2012 16:15 Moscow Time
Foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states held a meeting in Beijing. The situation in Afghanistan dominated the agenda. The participating countries agreed that stability in the entire region depends on how quickly Afghanistan manages to become an independent and peaceful state. The organization is ready to grant observer status to Afghanistan.
Foreign ministers of six countries (Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) presented a set of documents to be considered during the SCO leaders' summit scheduled for June 6-7 in Beijing. The set contains a draft declaration which gives assessment of the latest global events. The sides also discussed further cooperation for the sake of regional development.
As its major task the SCO views strengthening stability in the Central Asian region. The Shanghai Group`s member states plan to enhance exchange of data on the most acute challenges viewed by the countries in the financial and humanitarian spheres.
Afghanistan remains a key problem on the Shanghai Group agenda. Kabul is hosting an international conference on Afghanistan on June 14. Addressing the meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi stressed that the situation in Afghanistan has a direct impact on the entire region. Russia, for its part, views drug trafficking and extremism as main threats coming from Afghanistan. The ministers agreed that a possibility of granting observer status to Kabul should be discussed at the forthcoming summit. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented on the decision:
"We are deeply concerned over the situation in Afghanistan and in the region in general. I think that we should be actively involved in all international discussions on the Afghan issue and demonstrate the SCO`s coordinated position on the political and economic revival of the country. In terms of this, granting observer status to Afghanistan will definitely be of great help."
Last year the SCO presented its Anti-Drug Trafficking Strategy for 2011-2016. The successful implementation of this program requires special mechanisms to be introduced. Russia is ready to discuss either granting the Regional anti-terror council extra powers or creating an independent body.
The upcoming summit in Beijing will also focus on the ratification of the program suggesting the SCO member states` cooperation against terrorism, separatism and extremism in 2013-2015. Russia emphasizes a need to consolidate efforts to ensure security in the SCO countries:
"It is possible that the Regional anti-terror council could be turned into an all-purpose center dealing with new threats and challenges. Inviting countries with observer status in the SCO- India, Iran, Pakistan, and Mongolia, as well as Belarus and Sri Lanka holding dialogue partner status in the SCO to join the RATC could also be helpful."
While Afghanistan expects to be granted observer status in the SCO, Turkey wants to hold dialogue partner status there. India and Pakistan have long expressed their willingness to become full SCO members. Sergei Lavrov said he believed that those issues required a prompt decision, and called on the sides to speed up endorsement of all financial, legal and other documents needed to accept new members.
Afghanistan dominates Shanghai Group meeting
Tags: SCO summit, SCO, Politics, World, Russia, Commentary
Denisova Olga
May 11, 2012 16:15 Moscow Time
Foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states held a meeting in Beijing. The situation in Afghanistan dominated the agenda. The participating countries agreed that stability in the entire region depends on how quickly Afghanistan manages to become an independent and peaceful state. The organization is ready to grant observer status to Afghanistan. Foreign ministers of six countries (Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) presented a set of documents to be considered during the SCO leaders' summit scheduled for June 6-7 in Beijing. The set contains a draft declaration which gives assessment of the latest global events. The sides also discussed further cooperation for the sake of regional development.
As its major task the SCO views strengthening stability in the Central Asian region. The Shanghai Group`s member states plan to enhance exchange of data on the most acute challenges viewed by the countries in the financial and humanitarian spheres.
Afghanistan remains a key problem on the Shanghai Group agenda. Kabul is hosting an international conference on Afghanistan on June 14. Addressing the meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi stressed that the situation in Afghanistan has a direct impact on the entire region. Russia, for its part, views drug trafficking and extremism as main threats coming from Afghanistan. The ministers agreed that a possibility of granting observer status to Kabul should be discussed at the forthcoming summit. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented on the decision:
"We are deeply concerned over the situation in Afghanistan and in the region in general. I think that we should be actively involved in all international discussions on the Afghan issue and demonstrate the SCO`s coordinated position on the political and economic revival of the country. In terms of this, granting observer status to Afghanistan will definitely be of great help."
Last year the SCO presented its Anti-Drug Trafficking Strategy for 2011-2016. The successful implementation of this program requires special mechanisms to be introduced. Russia is ready to discuss either granting the Regional anti-terror council extra powers or creating an independent body.
The upcoming summit in Beijing will also focus on the ratification of the program suggesting the SCO member states` cooperation against terrorism, separatism and extremism in 2013-2015. Russia emphasizes a need to consolidate efforts to ensure security in the SCO countries:
"It is possible that the Regional anti-terror council could be turned into an all-purpose center dealing with new threats and challenges. Inviting countries with observer status in the SCO- India, Iran, Pakistan, and Mongolia, as well as Belarus and Sri Lanka holding dialogue partner status in the SCO to join the RATC could also be helpful."
While Afghanistan expects to be granted observer status in the SCO, Turkey wants to hold dialogue partner status there. India and Pakistan have long expressed their willingness to become full SCO members. Sergei Lavrov said he believed that those issues required a prompt decision, and called on the sides to speed up endorsement of all financial, legal and other documents needed to accept new members.