MINSK, 1 July (BelTA) – Russia supports Belarus' intention to become member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said as he met with Belarusian students on 1 July, BelTA has learned.
“Belarus wants to join the SCO and we support the country in its intention,” Sergey Lavrov said.
As BelTA reported earlier, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on 25 June that Belarus would like to enhance its status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. “I'd like to talk to you about the Shanghai Cooperation Organization where we are observers. We may consult, you may back the upgrade of our status. A lot of time has passed. I think we will come in handy over there,” the president said.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was founded in 2001 by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Later it was joined by Iran, India, and Pakistan.
In 2010 Belarus received a status of an observer in the organization.
