MOSCOW, 8 September (BelTA) – The procedure for Belarus' accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is expected to begin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, which is scheduled to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 15-16 September, BelTA learned from Spokeswoman of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova on 8 September.
According to the source, a number of promising decisions are supposed to be made at the summit. Iran may sign a commitment memorandum for the sake of becoming a Shanghai Cooperation Organization member state. It will open an opportunity for Tehran to accede to founding documents and international agreements of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The launch of the procedure for Belarus to accede to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is expected as well. Apart from that, memorandums have been prepared to formalize the status of Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia as dialogue partners. The process of granting dialogue partnership to Bahrain, the Maldives, and a number of other countries will begin, Maria Zakharova said.
Belarus is an observer state in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization at present.
