ID :
407599
Tue, 05/24/2016 - 10:46
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Accession of India, Pakistan does not envisage reforming SCO - Russian diplomat

TASHKENT, May 24. /TASS/. Accession of India and Pakistan does not envisage reforming the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) but will require adjusting cooperation mechanisms, Russian presidential envoy for SCO Bakhtiyer Khakimov told reporters on Tuesday. "There will be no SCO reform. However, the process of expanding (the organization) continues, and the prospects of accession of new members will require adjustment of cooperation mechanisms," Khakimov said. He noted that "new members should be adapted, should be included in these structures." "New details will emerge in the framework of the SCO secretariat and at sessions of the Council of national coordinators," the diplomat added. Khakimov expressed confidence that "SCO’s role will grow significantly" after India and Pakistan join the organization. "Prospects are very promising," he concluded. The Council of Foreign Ministers of SCO member countries meets today in Tashkent. In 2016, Uzbekistan chairs the organization, and the SCO summit will be held in Tashkent on June 23-24. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a permanent regional international association, the establishment of which was announced on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai. The organization brings together Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. During the SCO summit in Ufa on July 9 and July 10 the start of the admission procedure for India and Pakistan was announced. The leaders of the SCO member-countries also decided to grant Belarus observer status, while Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia and Nepal became dialogue partners. SCO priority spheres include joint fight against terrorism and extremism, cooperation in the spheres of education, energy, transport, and telecommunications. The total population of SCO countries is almost 1.6 billion people, and the total GDP of the member countries is $11.6 trillion. Read more

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