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SCO Foreign Ministers Council meets in Tashkent

(sectsco.org)
Updated: 2010-06-09 16:48

Foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states meet in Tashkent on May 22. [Photo/sectsco.org]

Published on May 22, 2010

The session of the Foreign Ministers Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states was held in Tashkent on May 22.

State secretary and foreign minister of Kazakhstan K.Saudabayev, foreign minister of China Yang Jiechi, foreign minister of Russia S.Lavrov, foreign minister of Tajikistan H.Zarifi, foreign minister of Uzbekistan V.Norov, vice foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan - SCO National Coordinator of Kyrgyzstan T.Makeyev participated in the meeting.

SCO Secretary-General M.Imanaliev was in attendance.

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The heads of the delegations were received by President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.

The session of the SCO Foreign Ministers Council was held under the chairmanship of the Uzbek side.

In the context of preparation to the SCO Heads of States Council session, planned for June 10-11 in Tashkent, the foreign ministers considered priority tasks of strengthening cooperation within the organization.

They considered important regional and global problems, situation in the world, issues of strengthening stability and security in Central Asia, and expansion of SCO contacts with multilateral organizations.

The heads of delegations expressed solidarity with the people of Kyrgyzstan in the current difficult situation. Security and stability on the SCO territory is closely linked to security and stability in each member state, the session participants said.

SCO member states, while being committed to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kyrgyzstan, confirmed readiness to provide required assistance and support to the country.

The participants stated that over the period since the last SCO Heads of States Council on June 15-16, 2009 in Yekaterinburg, Russia, a significant work had been carried out to further strengthen the organization, expand practical interaction in the political, economic and social areas, as well as develop external contacts. The SCO activity helps solve socioeconomic problems and ensure security and stability in the region.

It was emphasized that strengthening stability in Central Asia remained the most important task of the SCO member states in the area of security. The ministers confirmed their intention to expand cooperation in areas like joint counteraction to terrorism, separatism and extremism, illegal drug trade and organized transnational crime.

The meeting participants expressed serious concern over the complex situation in Afghanistan, which continues representing threats of terrorism, illegal drug trade and transnational organized crime. They stressed that ensuring security and stability in Central Asia was impossible without the solution of problems related to Afghanistan.

The SCO member states acknowledged the leading role of the UNO in coordinating efforts of international community in settling the situation in Afghanistan. They believe solution of the Afghan problem cannot be reached through only military methods and call for promotion of the negotiation process under the UN aegis with participation of the Afghans in the interest of making Afghanistan a peaceful and stable state.

The session participants agreed that deeper regional economic cooperation, creation of favorable conditions for trade and investments, strengthening practical interaction in trade, finance, energy, transport, communications, agriculture, science and technologies would help ensure security and stability in the whole region.

Proving the openness of the SCO for other countries of the region, the ministers approved the draft document on the terms of adoption of new members to the organization. Approval of the document at the upcoming Heads of States Council in Tashkent would become the start of the process of formation of the mechanism of expansion of the SCO.

The heads of delegations welcomed the signing of the Joint declaration on cooperation between the UN and SCO secretariats on 5 April in Tashkent. Initiated by Uzbekistan, the document outlines the main principles and directions of cooperation between the two organizations, as defined in the resolution А/64/183 of the UN General Assembly of December 18, 2009.

The permanent bodies of the SCO were recommended to boost cooperation with the UN, ASEAN and other international organizations and structures on issues of security and stability, as well as economic and social development.

The ministers called for fuller realization of the cooperation potential in various areas with SCO observers and dialogue partners.

SCO Secretary-General M.Imanaliev presented the report on the work of the SCO Secretariat over the past year, which was approved by the heads of the delegations.

The session of the Foreign Ministers Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization passed off in a traditional spirit of friendship and mutual understanding.