MINSK, 4 July (BelTA) - Ensuring security of member states remains a top priority for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the SCO summit in Astana, TASS reports.
"Maintaining security of the member countries and along the organization’s external borders has certainly been one of the SCO’s priorities. This is why today, a decision was made to turn the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure into a universal center tasked with responding to the entire range of security threats, as well as to establish an anti-drug center in [the Tajik capital of Dushanbe]," the Russian president said.
Vladimir Putin also emphasized that a special cooperation program approved at the Astana summit would facilitate the fight against separatism and extremism in the SCO countries.
Vladimir Putin stressed that Russia attaches great importance to partnership within the SCO, which, according to him, "is progressively developing on the principles of equality and respect for each other's interests."
The Russian president pointed out that "a really big package of documents and decisions has been prepared for approval at the current meeting", which "will undoubtedly contribute to strengthening the role and influence of the SCO."
"The approaches of the SCO countries to key aspects of the global and regional agenda are reflected in the Astana Declaration submitted for approval at the summit. It further highlights the commitment of all SCO members to the formation of a fair multipolar world order based on the central role of the UN, international law, and the desire of sovereign states for mutually beneficial partnership," Vladimir Putin concluded.
"Maintaining security of the member countries and along the organization’s external borders has certainly been one of the SCO’s priorities. This is why today, a decision was made to turn the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure into a universal center tasked with responding to the entire range of security threats, as well as to establish an anti-drug center in [the Tajik capital of Dushanbe]," the Russian president said.
Vladimir Putin also emphasized that a special cooperation program approved at the Astana summit would facilitate the fight against separatism and extremism in the SCO countries.
Vladimir Putin stressed that Russia attaches great importance to partnership within the SCO, which, according to him, "is progressively developing on the principles of equality and respect for each other's interests."
The Russian president pointed out that "a really big package of documents and decisions has been prepared for approval at the current meeting", which "will undoubtedly contribute to strengthening the role and influence of the SCO."
"The approaches of the SCO countries to key aspects of the global and regional agenda are reflected in the Astana Declaration submitted for approval at the summit. It further highlights the commitment of all SCO members to the formation of a fair multipolar world order based on the central role of the UN, international law, and the desire of sovereign states for mutually beneficial partnership," Vladimir Putin concluded.
