Defense minister says Russia hopeful Mongolia to enhance SCO status

MOSCOW, April 25. /TASS/. Moscow hopes that Ulaanbaatar will enhance its status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with his Mongolian counterpart Badmaanyambuugiin Bat-Erdene ahead of the Sixth Moscow Conference on International Security. While opening the meeting, Shoigu conveyed his condolences to Bat-Erdene over the death of Mongolian military servicemen in an incident at the Tavan Tolgoi Peace Operations Support Training Centre. "We welcome your country’s participation in the SCO’s activities. We hope that your observer status will be enhanced," the Russian defense minister said. Shoigu pointed out that apart from cooperation between the defense ministries, there had also been interaction between Russia’s Eastern Military District and the Mongolian Armed Forces. The Russian defense minister thanked his Mongolian counterpart for taking part in the Moscow Conference on International Security. Mongolia was the first country to receive the SCO permanent observer status. Meanwhile, the SCO member states have supported Mongolia’s membership. The Sixth Moscow Conference on International Security is scheduled to be held on April 26-27. Read more