The security of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) remains a priority task, and the regional anti-terrorist structure of the association will be transformed to fulfill it. This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting of the Council of heads of SCO member states in Astana.
He stressed that the approved program of cooperation in this area will also contribute to the fight against separatism and extremism in the SCO space.
TASS has compiled the main statements of the president.
On the development of cooperation in the SCO
- Russia attaches great importance to cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), it "continues to develop steadily on the principles of equality, consideration of each other's interests, respect for cultural and civilizational diversity, and the search for collegial solutions to pressing security issues."
- A really solid package of documents and decisions has been prepared for approval at the current SCO Council of Heads of state, the implementation of which "will undoubtedly contribute to strengthening the role and influence" of the organization.
On security and the fight against terrorism
- The security of the SCO member states remains a priority, and to fulfill it, the organization's regional anti-terrorist structure will be transformed into a "universal center that will respond to the full range of security threats."
- The program of cooperation in this area, approved during the organization's summit in Kazakhstan, will also contribute to the fight against separatism and extremism in the SCO space.
- The new architecture of cooperation and security in Eurasia proposed by Russia is designed to replace the "obsolete Euro-Atlantic models".
About youth contacts
- The SCO Youth Council, established on the Russian initiative, plays a coordinating role in expanding youth contacts.
- The organization's member countries are consistently increasing cooperation on the cultural and humanitarian track: "The SCO University, which unites 77 universities from our countries, is successfully operating."
On economic cooperation
- "Close economic ties" in the SCO space bring obvious dividends to the organization's participants: "The facts speak for themselves."
- The draft decision on the development of the association's development strategy until 2035 outlines prospects for further deepening cooperation not only in politics and security, but also in the economy, energy, agriculture, high technologies and innovations: "This is important from the point of view of deepening practical cooperation in all areas within the orbit of our organization."
About the multipolar world
- Changes in the world order are taking place rapidly and irreversibly, "the multipolar world has become a reality."
- The SCO and BRICS "act as a powerful engine for the processes of global development and the establishment of genuine multipolarity."
About Ukraine
- The crisis in Ukraine arose because of the "absolutely cavalier policy of the United States, led by its satellites."
- The peace plan proposed by Russia, with the readiness of Kiev and the West, will immediately stop the fighting and start negotiations.
About the situation in the Middle East
- History has shown the unviability of the United States' sole attempts to "cut the Palestinian knot."
About the use of national currencies in calculations
- The SCO states are increasing the use of national currencies in mutual settlements, "their share in Russia's commercial transactions with the organization's participants has already exceeded 92% in the first four months of this year."
