Belarus Is the First to Get the SCO Partner Status

28.04.2010 12:22
Архив Редакция

Belarus became the first country to get the status of the partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). It was reported by the Foreign Minister of Belarus, Sergei Martynov, as a result of signing in Minsk of the Memorandum on SCO dialogue partner status for Belarus. The document was signed by Belarusian Foreign Minister, Sergei Martynov, and the Secretary General of the SCO, Muratbek Imanaliev.

According to Sergei Martynov, this document establishes the directions of cooperation between Belarus and the international organization. «It concerns the economy, transportation and logistics, banking and financial areas, as well as combating terrorism and drug menace. This is a serious list», BelTA quotes the words of the minister.

The decision to grant the SCO dialogue partner status for Belarus was adopted on June 16 of the last year at a meeting of the Council of heads of SCO member-states in Yekaterinburg. The regulations on the SCO dialogue partner status was approved during the meeting of the Council of heads of SCO member-states in Dushanbe in August 2008. «This status provides the possibility for interested states and organizations to connect to the SCO activity in certain areas, to participate in working meetings and groups», Sergei Martynov said.

The head of Belarusian foreign ministry stressed that Belarus «is greatly interested in the activities of this important organization». Sergei Martynov also expressed gratitude to the SCO authorities for the prompt preparation of the document.

MFA believes that Belarus «will bring an important component of cooperation in the SCO». «The SCO countries are linked within the CSTO, EurAsEC, CIS. As for China, then this state develops strategic cooperation with Belarus», the minister added.

Sergei Martynov stressed that during his meeting with Muratbek Imanaliev, they agreed that «from the first days the cooperation should acquire a substantive and constructive character».

In his turn, the organization’s secretary general reaffirmed that «Belarus’ decision to become a partner in dialogue fully reflects the aspirations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s countries to develop collaboration». «Belarus’ partnership will strengthen the SCO in the areas emphasized in the memorandum», Muratbek Imanaliev stressed.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is sub-regional international organization, which includes six states: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Mongolia, India, Pakistan and Iran are observers of the organization. The total area of the SCO member states is 61% of Eurasia, its aggregate demographic potential is a quarter of the world population, and economic potential includes the most powerful after the U.S. China’s economy.

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