Belarus to obtain SCO observer status soon - Putin

UFA, July 8 /TASS/. Belarus which has the status of a partner for dialogue with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will soon become an SCO observer state. The matter is practically solved," Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Wednesday. "In connection with your visit to Ufa, I would like to congratulate you on the fact that the task you assigned to Belarus has been fulfilled. We supported your initiative to upgrade Belarus’s current status at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)," Putin said. "We can consider this matter to be solved. Belarus will obtain an observer status in this prominent international organization (SCO) whose role in the modern world is growing," the Russian president told Lukashenko. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, founded in 2001, comprises Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Another five states - Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan - are observers. Three countries, including Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka, have the status of partners for dialogue with the SCO. The Russian president said he was confident that Belarus and all the other SCO members and participants would benefit from Belarus’s participation. Putin also noted a special nature of relations between Moscow and Minsk. "There is no doubt that Belarus is our closest strategic partner and ally," Putin said adding that bilateral cooperation covered all areas from the defense sector to the humanitarian sphere. Besides, Putin said, the two countries jointly solve humanitarian problems and develop cooperation ties within the framework of the Union State, the Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). "We have many serious plans," the Russian president concluded. Read more