Regional efforts on Afghanistan should be taken via SCO - Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW, December 10. /TASS/. Regional efforts aimed at assisting Afghanistan in its fight against terrorism should be taken mainly within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a press briefing on Thursday. "Considering very disturbing, very dangerous aspects of the international situation, it is essential to combine and coordinate efforts of the international community designed to suppress the global terrorist threats on the basis of norms and principles of international law and, of course, the provisions of the UN Charter, including respect for state sovereignty. And, of course, it is necessary to cooperate, primarily with those states whose territories are exposed to direct terrorist attacks," she said. According to Zakharova, Russia is committed to taking "additional counter-terrorism measures in connection with the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan within the framework of the existing and successful international formats - the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, the relevant bodies within the CIS and, of course, the CSTO." "We believe that regional efforts on Afghanistan should be taken mainly through the SCO, which brings together as members, observers and dialogue partners practically all countries of the region, including Afghanistan," Zakharova added. Read more