Member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) do not intend to turn the organization into a military-political bloc. Russian Presidential Envoy for the SCO and Ambassador at Large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyer Khakimov told Russian journalists on Monday following his visit to Beijing.
"We do not oppose ourselves to anyone. The SCO Development Strategy to 2025, which was adopted in Ufa in 2015, clearly states that the SCO is not a military-political bloc and does not aim to become an economic integration association with the creation of supranational bodies. We are for using each country's potential in common interests, but taking into account the specifics and interests of each participant separately," Khakimov emphasized.
He noted that in recent years more and more countries declared their readiness to start cooperation with the SCO and join the organization. "The potential and possibilities of the organization are really significant. Hence, the desire of many states to join the joint work in one form or another," the diplomat pointed out.
"The Charter [of the SCO] stipulates that the SCO is open to all interested states and is not directed against third countries. The organization's philosophy is creative, constructive, aimed at mutual understanding, cooperation, search for joint solutions in the interests of everyone. We are based on the principles of indivisible security and equal interaction," he said.
The SCO is an international organization founded in 2001. It currently includes Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Four other countries - Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia - have observer status. In addition, nine countries are partners in the dialogue: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Egypt, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
At last year's Samarkand summit held on September 15-16, the leaders of the SCO countries signed a memorandum on Iran's obligations in connection with joining the SCO. Also at the summit the process of registration of Belarus as a member of the organization was initiated. In addition, it was decided to start the process of granting the status of a dialogue partner to Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar and the United Arab Emirates.
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Photo: Press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation / TASS
Based on materials from TASS