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The Growing Interest
of World Community
March 05, 2010
Initiatives of President Islam Karimov aimed at improving the efficiency
of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) during Uzbekistan’s
presidency in the Organization have been reviewed in Turkmenistan.
The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Turkmenistan held a briefing on this
occasion, attended by representatives of political, social and business
circles of Turkmenistan, heads and staff of diplomatic missions and
international organizations, accredited in Ashgabat.
Speakers at the briefing praised Uzbekistan’s efforts to improve
efficiency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Chinese Ambassador to Turkmenistan Wu Hongbin said that SCO is among few
international organizations that has consistently and progressively
gained credibility not only in the region, but in the world. In
particular, he said: “The basis for this positive trend is a unity of
views and approaches of all the members of the Organization towards
tasks that before them. SCO Member States demonstrate a commitment to
deepen and expand cooperation on such key issues as security,
development of trade and economic ties, cultural and humanitarian
cooperation.
The Chinese diplomat expressed his confidence that the Presidency of
Uzbekistan in SCO will further strengthen the Organization. Initiatives,
proposed by the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, will certainly
contribute to the existing potential of SCO and its efficiency.
In this context, according to participants of the briefing, efforts to
further develop transport and communications are of particular
importance. Today Uzbekistan is one of those first completed the project
for reconstruction and building the Trans-Asian highway. The
introduction of this road will create necessary conditions for a
multiple increase of trade and enhance cultural exchanges between SCO
Member States.
According to ambassador of Romania in Turkmenistan Horumbe Liviu Radu,
the Uzbek presidency in SCO should give an important impetus to
development of this influential Organization, importance of which only
grows in the recent years. “The proposals and initiatives put forward by
Uzbekistan are relevant and necessary for further development of SCO in
modern conditions”, - ambassador said.
Counselor for Political Affairs, the United Nations Regional Center for
Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia Arthurs Pupols believes that the
position of Uzbekistan to establish and develop contacts between SCO and
international organizations, in particular, with the UN is a right
approach. “Such an intention is on the whole consistent with modern
realities and is aimed at consolidating efforts to preserve security and
stability not only in the region, but throughout the world. In this
context, the initiative by President Islam Karimov to address the
situation in Afghanistan and ongoing activities of States to assist the
country deserve a special attention,” the diplomat believes.
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SCO
Secretary-General meets Chinese Foreign Minister
| On 23 December 2009 on the occasion of completing
the mission of SCO Secretary-General Bolat Nurgaliev met with the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Yang
Jiechi.
During the meeting exchange of opinions took place on various
issues, including further development of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation and deepening of friendship and cooperation among its
member states.
www.sectsco.org |
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SCO Secretariat holds farewell reception on completion of SCO
Secretary-General’s mission On 23
December 2009 the SCO Secretariat held a farewell reception on the
occasion of completing the duties of the SCO Secretary-General B.
Nurgaliev and his Deputies Gao Yusheng and V. Zakharov. The Deputy
Foreign Minister of China He Yafei, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan I.
Adyrbekov and the Ambassador of Uzbekistan, currently holding SCO
presidency, A. Salakhutdinov were the guests of honour and delivered
statements. Representatives from the embassies of the observer states
and dialogue partners, the diplomatic corps of Beijing, as well as
government institutions and public organisations of the host state
attended the reception.
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64th session of UN General Assembly adopts Resolution on cooperation
between UN and SCO On 18 December 2009
introducing a plenary text on cooperation between the United Nations and
the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (A/64/L.34), on behalf of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization, MURAD ASKAROV (Uzbekistan) said the
organization aimed to strengthen trust and friendship among its member
States, encourage efficient cooperation in politics, trade and economy,
and science and technology, among other areas, and consolidate efforts
to maintain peace and security. The Council of Heads, its governing
body, determines priorities and decides on issues of internal
functioning. The Council of National Coordinators coordinates
cooperation between ministries and agencies of member States.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization had enjoyed observer status
with the General Assembly since 2004, he said, and cooperated closely
with the United Nations in most major areas. Prospects for joint work
looked promising in environmental protection, humanitarian issues and
migration. To address common objectives, the relationship between the
two bodies had to be placed on a more systematic basis. That was the
purpose of the draft resolution, which noted that the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization aimed to strengthen peace, security and
stability in the region; counter terrorism and extremism, and promote
regional cooperation in areas like trade and economic development,
energy and transportation.
Further, the draft emphasized the importance of strengthening
dialogue and cooperation between the two bodies, he said, and proposed
that the United Nations Secretary-General hold regular consultations
with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Secretary-General through
existing inter-agency forums and formats. It proposed that United
Nations specialized agencies, programmes and funds cooperate with the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization with a view to implementing programmes
to achieve their goals. He believed the draft text would be adopted by
consensus.
BOLAT NURGALIEV, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization, said consideration of the draft resolution reflected
Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s increasing role in security in the
Asian region. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s activities aimed
to encourage regional cooperation in areas like trade, energy,
transport, agriculture, finance, information and communication
technologies, science, customs, education, healthcare, environmental
protection, and natural disaster risk reduction.
He said Members had made significant contributions to ensuring
post-conflict reconstruction in Afghanistan, efforts which he hoped to
step up, with United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, in the
interest of jointly carrying out projects in those areas. In closing, he
expressed his appreciation to States that supported inclusion of the
item on the Assembly’s agenda.
The Assembly then adopted by consensus the resolution on cooperation
between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(A/64/L.34), by which it emphasized the importance of strengthening
dialogue, cooperation and coordination between the United Nations system
and that organization. Among other things, it proposed that the
Secretary-General hold regular consultations with the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization’s Secretary-General through the existing
inter-agency forums and formats.
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Almaty hosts first meeting of finance ministers and heads of central
banks of SCO member states
On 9 December 2009 the first meeting of finance ministers and heads
of central banks of the SCO member states took place in Almaty.
The finance minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan B. Zhamishev, the
finance minister of the People’s Republic of China Xie Xuren, the
finance minister of the Kyrgyz Republic M. Sultanov, the finance
minister and deputy chairman of the government of the Russian Federation
A. Kudrin, the finance minister of the Republic of Tajikistan S.
Nadjmuddinov, the first deputy finance minister of the Republic of
Uzbekistan R. Guliamov, the chairman of the National Bank of the
Republic of Kazakhstan G. Marchenko, the deputy chairman of the People’s
Bank of the People’s Republic of China Ma Delong, the deputy chairman of
the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic Abdybaly tegin Suerkul, the
chairman of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation S. Ignatiev, the
deputy chairman of the National Bank of the Republic of Tajikistan D.
Yusupov, the deputy chairman of the Central Bank of the Republic of
Uzbekistan R. Abdukarimov were in attendance.
SCO Secretariat officials as well as representatives of the finance
ministries and central banks of the SCO member states also took part in
the meeting.
In a friendly and constructive spirit the parties exchanged opinions
on the burning issues and prospects for cooperation among the SCO member
states in the financial field.
Upon conclusion of the meeting the parties adopted a joint statement.
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SCO Secretary-General meets Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
On 4 December 2009 the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian
Federation Grigory Karasin met in Moscow with the SCO Secretary-General
B. Nurgaliev.
The talks focused on the new duties B. Nurgaliev would perform from 1
January 2010 in the capacity of a Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office on the Conflict.
Exchange of opinions took place on the process of settling the
conflicts in Transdniester and Mountainous Karabakh, as well as on the
situation in Southern Caucasus and the relevant role of the OSCE.
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Senior officials from counternarcotics agencies of SCO member states
meet in Beijing
24-26 November 2009 the SCO Secretariat hosted a meeting of senior
officials from the counternarcotics agencies of the SCO member states
chaired by the Uzbek side.
The meeting became a fresh step towards creation of an SCO mechanism
of practical cooperation in the field of fighting against drug
trafficking in compliance with the relevant decision of the SCO Heads of
State Council.
The parties focused on fulfillment of the decisions of the Meeting of
Heads of Counternarcotics Agencies of the SCO Member States held in
Moscow in May 2009.
The parties discussed the state and prospects for counternarcotics
cooperation of the SCO member states, and unanimously noted that at
present the SCO possessed a great potential for enhancing the
effectiveness of interaction in this field. Work on the draft
Counternarcotics Strategy of the SCO Member States for 2010-2015 was
continued.
The parties debated organisational issues concerning the launch of
SCO expert working groups responsible for improvement of the legal base
for counternarcotics cooperation, law enforcement activity and fight
against drug-related crime, precursor control and drug demand reduction.
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SCO Secretary-General participates in 3rd Eurasian Economic Forum in
Xi’an On 6-17
November 2009 Xi’an hosted the third Eurasian Economic Forum co-organised
by the SCO Secretariat, the Ministry of Commerce of China, the General
Customs Administration of China, the State Development Bank of China,
China National Petroleum Corporation, the Export-Import Bank of China,
the EurAsEC Secretariat, the UNDP, China Council for the Promotion of
International Trade, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of
China and the People’s Government of the city of Xi’an.
A delegation from the SCO Secretariat headed by the SCO
Secretary-General Bolat Nurgaliev participated in the Forum.
Around 1200 government officials, businesspeople and experts from
more than 20 countries, including the SCO member states, as well as
Iran, Mongolia, Japan, South Korea, Ukraine, Sri-Lanka, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belgium, Nepal and a number of international and regional
organisations, were in attendance.
The Deputy Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping made
a welcoming address in which he noted that in recent years the SCO
member states had shown impressive achievements in ensuring stability,
economic revival and choosing a path of development consistent with
their national realities. The Chinese leader stressed that in conditions
of the current global economic crisis only by taking stronger joint
efforts could we overcome it and find new opportunities for development.
The SCO Secretary-General delivered a statement at the plenary
session of the Forum that focused on SCO activity in the economic field.
He later made a presentation during a meeting of heads of customs
departments from Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan and Mongolia held on the sidelines of the Forum (for more go
to “Speeches”).
The Forum held sessions on a variety of cooperation areas such as
customs, energy, finance, education, and staged presentations of
investment potential and projects initiated by different countries.
Discussions took place in a spirit of pragmatism, a number of
constructive ideas and initiatives were generated.
The statements of forum participants clearly showed a common
understanding of the priority tasks facing the region’s nations, such as
ensuring a secure and stable development as the key precondition for
economic prosperity, raising people’s standard of living, further
deepening of integration processes.
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TRANSPORT MINISTERS OF SCO MEMBER STATES GATHER IN BEIJING
On 10 November 2009 Beijing hosted the fourth
Meeting of the Ministers of Transport of the Member States of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Ministers of transport or their
representatives from Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were in attendance.
Ministers of transport and representatives of transport ministries
from the SCO observer states – India, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, as
well as a specially invited representative of Afghanistan
participated in the Meeting. |
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Officials from the SCO Secretariat, the UN Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Asian Development Bank, the SCO
Business Council and Interbank Consortium also attended the Meeting.
The Meeting was chaired by the Chinese Minister of Transport Li Shenglin.
On 10 November the Vice Premier of the State Council of the PRC Zhang
Dejian received the heads of delegations.
In a friendly, businesslike and constructive spirit the Ministers
discussed the issues of deepening transport cooperation in the SCO
framework.
The parties noted significant progress in transport cooperation of the
member states which had played a positive role in developing economic
cooperation in the SCO region.
The Ministers positively rated the process of carrying out SCO pilot
projects in the field of transport – the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan
motorway and E-40 route, as well as other important projects of regional
transport cooperation, including the construction of
Tajikistan-Uzbekistan motorway.
The Ministers particularly noted that experts from the SCO member states
with the technical and financial support of UNESCAP and ADB after 8
rounds of negotiations which took 4 years completed in June 2008 the
preparation of a draft framework Agreement among the governments of the
SCO member states on international road transportation facilitation. The
experts were instructed to continue their work on preparing the relevant
Appendices to the draft Agreement.
The parties noted the expediency of formulating a Programme (Main
guidelines) for coordinated development of motorways in the SCO member
states with the aim of strengthening cooperation in the field of
automobile transport.
An agreement was reached to make an assessment of the main barriers in
international road transportation and draw up an action plan on
eliminating the existing barriers.
The Ministers decided to increase cooperation in the SCO framework in
the field of railway and aviation transport and to determine possible
areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.
Taking into account the model of cooperation between the SCO, UNESCAP
and ADB, the Ministers welcome the intention of the relevant
international financial institutions, international organisations, SCO
Business Council and Interbank Consortium to participate in joint
projects in the field of transport under the SCO auspices.
The parties decided to actively promote transport cooperation with the
SCO observer states and encourage them to get involved in the process of
developing SCO transport cooperation, e.g. concerning the formulation of
programmes of development and construction of transport infrastructure,
as well as to consider their opinions with the aim of assisting joint
development of the transport sector in the SCO member and observer
states.
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SCO HEADS OF
GOVERNMENT COUNCIL MEETS IN BEIJING
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A regular meeting of the Council of the Heads of
Government of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation (hereinafter referred to as the SCO and/or the
Organisation) took place on 14 October 2009 in Beijing.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.K.Masimov, the
Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Wen
Jiabao, the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic I.V.Chudinov, the
Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation V.V.Putin, |
the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan
A.G.Akilov and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan
S.M.Mirziyoev took part.
The Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Wen
Jiabao chaired the meeting.
The SCO Secretary-General B.K.Nurgaliev and the Director of the
Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Counter-Terrorism Structure
M.U.Subanov were in attendance.
Representatives of the SCO observer states – the Minister for Petroleum
and Natural Gas of the Republic of India M.Deora, the First Vice
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran M.R.Rahimi, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs and Trade of Mongolia S.Batbold and the Prime Minister
of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Y.R.Gilani as well as the Vice
President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan K.Khalili as the guest
of the host state were in attendance and delivered statements.
The Chairman of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao received the
heads of delegations of the member states.
In a friendly and constructive spirit the heads of government considered
the current international political and economic environment, assessed
existing opportunities and challenges. A comprehensive discussion was
held on the ways of deepening practical cooperation in various fields,
as well as of jointly confronting the global financial economic crisis.
After the exchange of opinions mutual understanding was reached on a
wide range of issues.
1. The heads of government noted with satisfaction that since the
previous meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the SCO
Member States (CHG) in Astana (30 October 2008) cooperation among the
member states of the Organisation in political, economic and cultural
fields was characterised by steady progress; friendship, good-neighbourly
relationship, mutual trust and multifaceted interaction continued to
develop.
Under the current global and regional situation, in order to ensure
steady development of the SCO and promotion of common interests of the
member states, the parties underlined the importance of consecutive
implementation of the Treaty on long-term good-neighbourliness,
friendship and cooperation among the member states of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation signed on 16 August 2007 and the agreements of
Yekaterinburg summit (15-16 June 2009).
2. The heads of government noted that the SCO member states had
been taking effective measures to ensure the stability of their national
economies. Safeguarding them against emerging threats and risks, as well
as strengthening economic cooperation in the SCO framework, including
promotion of regional economic development and implementation of the
Action Plan on Fulfillment of the Programme of Multilateral Trade and
Economic Cooperation among the SCO Member States, is a vital task aimed
to effectively confront the global financial economic crisis.
A timely step is the adoption during this CHG meeting of the Joint
Initiative on increasing multilateral economic cooperation in the field
of tackling the consequences of the global financial economic crisis and
ensuring further economic development of the SCO member states.
Exchanges among the business communities of the member states are meant
to play a growing role in boosting trade, economic and investment
cooperation in the SCO framework. The parties highly rated the outcome
of the Trade and Industry Forum held in Beijing on the sidelines of the
CHG meeting.
3. The parties acknowledged the need to increase financial
cooperation in the framework of the Organisation. In accordance with the
agreements of Yekaterinburg summit the financial departments will
increase sharing of information on the issues of tackling the
consequences of the global financial economic crisis. The parties will
study a possibility of holding a meeting of finance ministers and heads
of central banks.
The relevant institutions of the SCO member states jointly with the
Council of National Coordinators were instructed to expedite agreeing of
the Main Principles of Formation and Management of the SCO Special
Account.
4. The heads of government emphasised the role of the SCO
Business Council and Interbank Consortium as an important platform for
SCO economic and financial cooperation and in generating proposals
concerning implementation of promising joint regional projects.
5. The heads of government instructed the relevant ministries and
departments to take the necessary measures for more effective use of the
existing transit potential of the SCO member states, further improvement
of the transport infrastructure, strengthening the legal base for
transport cooperation.
6. The heads of government spoke for the earliest possible launch
of the projects "SCO information superhighway" and "Establishment of
electronic transnational interaction with the use of electronic digital
signature".
7. Underlining the importance of establishing agricultural
cooperation in the framework of the Organisation, the heads of
government gave a task to speed up preparations for the first meeting of
ministers of agriculture and consideration of the draft Agreement among
the governments of the SCO member states on cooperation in this field.
8. The heads of government reaffirmed that in current conditions
science and technology cooperation is contributing to enhancing the
capability of the SCO member states in confronting global challenges and
threats. In this regard there is special significance for agreed
measures to draft and carry out joint science and technology programmes
and projects in the priority areas of common interest such as science,
technology and innovation development of the SCO member states. The
first meeting of heads of science and technology ministries and
departments of the SCO member states is meant to play an important role
in forming common approaches.
9. The heads of government spoke for further deepening of customs
cooperation, simplification of trading procedures, raising the traffic
capacity and effectiveness of border posts, optimisation of border
facilities with the aim of promoting regional trade and economic
cooperation.
10. The parties acknowledged the need to enhance cooperation in
the field of application of standards, metrology, technical regulations,
conformity evaluation, check and control procedures, coordination and
settlement of the issues of ensuring the safety and quality of goods in
regional trade, facilitation of the growth of commodity turnover.
11. The heads of government noted the need to take agreed
measures for joint counteraction against threats of natural and manmade
disasters with the aim of enhancing emergency response capability.
12. Positively rating the achievements of cooperation in the
social and cultural fields, the heads of government stand up for further
strengthening and improvement of its mechanisms. The parties also
acknowledged the expediency of continuing the practice of holding
regular forums of university rectors and education weeks of the SCO
member states.
13. Cooperation in the field of healthcare, establishing
partnership ties among the relevant medical institutions of the SCO
member states, taking stronger joint preventive measures to fight
against infectious diseases is acquiring great importance. In this
regard the parties noted the significance of the Joint Statement on
fighting against infectious diseases in the SCO region adopted during
this CHG meeting.
14. Stating the steady progress in practical cooperation between
the SCO member and observer states, the heads of government welcome
participation of the observer states and dialogue partners in economic
and cultural cooperation in the framework of the Organisation with the
aim of promoting common development and prosperity in the region.
15. The heads of government approved the Report of the SCO
Secretariat on the process of fulfilling the Programme of Multilateral
Trade and Economic Cooperation among the SCO Member States.
The parties also considered a series of issues concerning the financial
and organisational activity of the SCO permanent bodies, and approved
the budget of the Organisation for 2010.
During the meeting plenipotentiary representatives of the SCO member
states signed the Protocol among the customs departments of the SCO
member states on cooperation in the field of training and raising the
professional skills of customs officers.
The heads of government highly appreciated the organisation and staging
of the SCO CHG meeting and expressed gratitude to the Chinese side for
its hospitality.
The next meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government (Prime
Ministers) of the SCO Member States will be held in 2010 in the Kyrgyz
Republic.
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SCO
Council of National Coordinators meets in Beijing
| 9-12 October 2009 the SCO Secretariat hosted a
meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of the SCO Member
States which discussed the issues of preparing for the SCO Heads of
Government (Prime Ministers) Council meeting due on 14 October in
Beijing.
The parties agreed the agenda of the HGC meeting as well as draft
decisions and documents to be signed by the Prime Ministers.
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During the meeting exchange of views took place on a wide range of
issues concerning the current and future activity of the Organisation.
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Council of National Coordinators of SCO Member States meets in Tashkent
10-11 September 2009 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan
hosted a meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of the SCO
Member States.
On 11 September the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the
heads of delegations and the heads of the SCO permanent bodies.
The President laid out his conceptual vision of the prospects for
expanding and deepening multifaceted cooperation in the SCO framework
during Uzbekistan’s chairmanship and in the coming years.
The CNC meeting was chaired by the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan
Vladimir Norov. The SCO Secretary-General Bolat Nurgaliev and the
Director of the SCO RCTS Executive Committee Myrzakan Subanov were in
attendance. The next CNC meeting is scheduled in October 2009 in
Beijing.
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President receives
SCO meeting participants September 11, 2009,
UZA
| President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received
General Secretary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the
director of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure executive council
and the participants of the SCO National Coordinators Council
session on 11 September.
During eight years of functioning, the SCO has become an
influential international organization, playing an important role in
forming the regional and global security architecture, Islam Karimov
said at the meeting.
Over this period, a significant work on expansion and
strengthening cooperation in political, economic, social and
humanitarian spheres was carried out, and steps to implement the
most urgent goals and tasks the organization is facing have been
made, he added. |
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The President stressed that during Uzbekistan’s chairmanship in the
SCO, one of the structure’s priority activities will be developing
measures to improve its acting mechanisms in accordance with the goals,
tasks and principles of the SCO Charter.
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At the meeting, priority directions and concrete
plans of SCO activities for 2009-2010 were considered.
SCO General Secretary Bolat Nurgaliyev highly evaluated the
proposals to increase the efficiency of the organization’s activity.
The participants also noted that the session of the SCO National
Coordinators Council held in Tashkent on 10-11 September was
successful and that they had an open and constructive exchange of
opinions on the SCO development. |
ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
OF UZBEKISTAN ISLAM KARIMOV AT THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF HEADS OF
THE SCO MEMBER-STATES
On June 15-16, 2009 the city of Ekaterinburg of the Russian Federation
hosted the meeting of the Council of heads of the SCO
member-states.
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov participated at
the meeting.
In his address at the delegation-level meeting President of the Republic
of Uzbekistan has positively assessed the activity of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization for over the last period. In particular, he
noted that “a considerable work has been carried out on further widening
and enhancing the fruitful cooperation in political, economic and
social-humanitarian spheres, substantial steps have been taken in
implementing the most important policy tasks and objectives, which stand
before our Organization.
President of Uzbekistan underscored that “with each year the role and
significance of the SCO were seeing their rise in resolving the problems
of regional and global security, counteracting the international
terrorism, separatism and extremism, drug trafficking and other
challenges and threats to security in the strategically important region
of Central Asia”.
President has been quoted as saying “our today’s decision on granting
the partner-status on SCO dialogue to the Republic of Belarus and the
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri-Lanka has become the vivid
demonstration of yet growing authority of the SCO on international
arena, openness of the Organization, its readiness to establish
cooperation with other states.”
Islam Karimov expressed confidence that documents to be signed upon the
outcomes of the summit would become an important stage on the way of
securing the tasks which stand before the SCO.
President Islam Karimov has dwelled on the most important priorities in
the SCO activity, “the implementation of which will allow considerably
increase the efficiency of its activity, consolidate security, provide
for fuller use of the potential of the states of the region”.
In particular, he has underscored that “the war, which has already been
going on for 30 years in Afghanistan, remains to be the main source of
threat to security. And one doesn’t have to speak about security and
stability in the entire Central Asian region without resolving this
problem”.
In this context, President Islam Karimov has said it was impossible to
resolve the Afghan problem with military way. He drew attention of the
participants of the summit that without addressing such acute problems
as reconstruction of economy, communications and social infrastructure
of Afghanistan destroyed by war, without engaging the Afghans in this
process, without providing them with jobs and strengthening the vertical
of power one cannot positively change the situation in the country.
“It is extremely important to show full respect to the deep historical
and ethnic-demographical roots of the multinational people of
Afghanistan, to all confessions, traditional values of the religion of
Islam, and secure on such basis and on the basis of dialogue the
necessary consensus inside Afghanistan,” President Islam Karimov said.
President of Uzbekistan has underscored that the establishment of the
“6+3” Contact Group under UN auspices, comprising the duly authorized
representatives of states bordering Afghanistan, as well as the
representatives of Russia, USA and NATO would serve for the soonest
solution of the Afghan problem and would be an important consultative
and diplomatic body on whose basis it would be possible to secure accord
both inside and around Afghanistan.
Touching upon the aggravation of situation in the wake of the world
financial economic crisis, and the growing problems related to
overcoming it, Islam Karimov spoke for enhancing the coordination of
joint efforts by SCO member-states in the conditions of global financial
and economic crisis.
According to the President, “the state of affairs in the implementation
of regional and national anti-crisis action programs, enormous
expenditures, made for over the last period of continuation and
aggravation of the world crisis, above all, in developed countries, are
far cry from guaranteeing the stabilization of the world financial
market, growth of demand and revival of the economic activity in the
sphere of production.”
In President’s view, “economies of Central Asian countries, which so far
have been playing the role of suppliers of raw and semi-finished
products to the world market, seriously suffer from sharp fall in demand
and prices.”
President Islam Karimov also drew the attention of participants to the
fact that situation is yet more exacerbated by the policy of major
countries on gross protectionism and denying access of goods from
developing countries to their own markets, despite all public assurances
on inadmissibility of such restrictions in trade.
This policy, according to the President, can lead to isolationism,
process of de-globalization of economies and setback in those trends,
which have developed for over the last decades and seriously harm, above
all, the interests of developing countries.
In President’s view, “the most important unsolved issue on the way of
overcoming the crisis is uncertainty of issues and the absence of
mechanisms of control and regulation of financial, currency and stock
markets, while without tackling this issue, the unpredictability of
further behavior of crisis on the world market will persist.”
The President of Uzbekistan has underscored that “in current situation
the issues of qualitative improvement and enhancement economic, above
all, investment component within the SCO, adoption of the necessary
legal documents, eradication of barriers on the way of trade and
economic cooperation and direct ties between the entities of small
business, implementation of projects in fuel and energy sector,
transport and communications, as well as agriculture will acquire an
enormous significance.”
“Further coordination of our efforts in financial and banking sphere on
rendering concrete assistance to countries which acutely need loans and
investments gain critically important meaning,” Islam Karimov has said.
In his remarks President Islam Karimov has also dwelled on the issues of
enhancing the work with observer-states, as well as the dialogue partner
countries with a view to enhancing the interaction and engaging their
enormous potential in the sphere of joint activity within the SCO
framework.
The President stressed that “article 13 of the Charter, while noting the
open character of the SCO, underscores that the Organization is open for
accepting new members which undertake to comply with objectives and
principles of the Charter, as well as provisions of other international
treaties and documents adopted by the SCO. In 2004 the SCO adopted the
Regulations on the status of observer at the SCO.”
Islam Karimov underscored that “the adoption of this institute became an
important link on the way of implementing the goals and tasks faced by
the SCO, promoted the consolidation of the potential of the SCO,
significantly expanded the capabilities of the Organization and
considerably influenced its role and authority in the world community”.
It is expedient for us, following the logics of onward and consistent
steps of the SCO along this path, to accelerate the preparation of
necessary legal documents that define the procedure of accepting
observer countries for a full-fledged membership of the SCO. We all
realize the complexity of this issue. However in any case it must be
consistently solved,” President Islam Karimov has underscored.
In conclusion, Islam Karimov expressed confidence that the outcomes of
the open exchange of opinions on urgent problems and adopted decisions
will come as the next step aimed at maintaining security and sustainable
development of the SCO countries.
JOINT COMMUNIQUE OF MEETING
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE HEADS OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE SHANGHAI
COOPERATION ORGANISATION
A regular meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO CHS) took place on 15 and
16 June 2009 in Yekaterinburg. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
N.A.Nazarbaev, Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Hu Jintao,
President of the Kyrgyz Republic K.S.Bakiev, President of the Russian
Federation D.A.Medvedev, President of the Republic of Tajikistan
E.Rakhmon, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan I.A.Karimov were in
attendance.
President of the Russian Federation D.A.Medvedev chaired the meeting.
Secretary-General of the SCO B.K.Nurgaliev and Director of the
Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Counter-Terrorism Structure (RCTS)
M.U.Subanov participated in the meeting.
Heads of delegations from the SCO observer states – Prime Minister of
the Republic of India M.Singh, President of the Islamic Republic of
Iran M.Ahmadinejad, First Vice Premier of the Government of Mongolia
N.Altankhuyag, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan A.Zardari,
as well as guests of the host state – President of the Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan H.Karzai, United Nations
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs L.Pascoe were in
attendance and delivered statements. Chairman of the Executive
Committee – Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent
States S.N.Lebedev, Secretary-General of the Eurasian Economic
Community T.A.Mansurov, Secretary-General of the Collective Security
Treaty Organisation N.N.Bordyuzha were also in attendance.
For the first time the format of the summit, besides a
restricted-attendance meeting of the heads of the SCO member states
and a plenary session with the participation of the heads of all
delegations, included a separate narrow-format meeting with the
participation of the heads of the member states of the Organisation
and leaders of the observer states.
Exchange of opinions took place on the issues of international and
regional situation. Common approaches of the Organisation members to
building a more just and rational system of interstate relations in
conditions of the crisis of the traditional structures of ensuring
security and financial stability are reflected in Yekaterinburg
Declaration signed by the heads of the SCO member states. The
Declaration also outlines priority areas of joint activity in the
framework of the Organisation.
The heads of state signed the SCO Counter-Terrorism Convention which
cements the legal base for counter-terrorism interaction in the SCO
framework and its potential, cooperation in this field was taken to a
new level.
The approval of the SCO Regulations on Political Diplomatic Measures
and Mechanisms of Response to Events Jeopardising Regional Peace,
Security and Stability will help further enhance a mechanism of
consultations, agree positions and interaction in international
affairs.
Plenipotentiary representatives of the member states of the
Organisation signed the Agreement among the Governments of the SCO
Member States on Cooperation in the Field of Ensuring International
Information Security and the Agreement on Training of Officers for
Counter-Terrorism Agencies of the SCO Member States.
During the meeting in an open and friendly atmosphere main
achievements of the activity of the Organisation in the period
following 2008 Dushanbe summit were considered, immediate and
long-term areas of joint work on the development of multifaceted
cooperation were determined.
It was stated with satisfaction that since the previous meeting
targeted steps had been taken to enhance and streamline the SCO
activity, strengthen the international prestige of the Organisation.
The heads of state approved the report of the SCO Secretary-General on
the work of the Organisation in the past year and the report of the
RCTS Council on the work of the Regional Counter-Terrorism Structure
in 2008.
* * *
The heads of state underlined that in conditions of the global
financial crisis ensuring security and maintaining stability in the
SCO region was assuming paramount significance.
The parties noted the outcome of the Special Conference on Afghanistan
under the SCO auspices (Moscow, 27 March 2009) dedicated to the issues
of joint struggle against terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and
organised crime.
The parties approved the results of the 7th meeting of defence
ministers (Moscow, 29 April 2009), 1st meeting of ministers of
internal affairs and public security (Yekaterinburg, 18 May 2009) and
the 4th meeting of secretaries of security councils (Moscow, 20 May
2009) of the member states of the Organisation.
A task was set to raise the level of coordination of cooperation of
the SCO member states in fighting against terrorism and other threats
in the field of security. The RCTS is to play a central role in this
field.
Proceeding from the outcome of the command staff joint
counter-terrorism exercise of the SCO member states
“Norak-Anti-Terror-2009” held 17-19 April 2009 in the Republic of
Tajikistan, the parties acknowledged the expediency of continuing the
practice of regular staging of joint counter-terrorism drills.
Taking into account the exchange of opinions at the meeting of heads
of counternarcotics agencies of the SCO member states (Moscow, 19 May
2009) an instruction was given to submit to the next meeting of the
SCO CHS agreed proposals concerning mechanisms of counternarcotics
cooperation in the framework of the Organisation.
The parties noted the importance of implementing the Plan of
activities on interaction in providing assistance in emergency events
in the SCO framework for 2009-2010 which was approved at the 4th
meeting of heads of departments of the SCO member states responsible
for prevention and elimination of emergency events (5 June 2009, Aktau,
the Republic of Kazakhstan).
* * *
The heads of state noted with satisfaction the active participation of
the SCO observer states in activities of mutual interest in the SCO
framework.
A decision was taken to grant the status of SCO dialogue partner to
the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of
Belarus.
The Special Expert Group was instructed to continue its work on the
draft document on the order of admitting new members to the SCO.
* * *
The parties stated that the economic component in the SCO activity was
showing significant dynamics, the legal base and organisational
structure of trade and economic cooperation were being improved, the
updated Action Plan on implementation of the Programme of Multilateral
Trade and Economic Cooperation of the SCO Member States approved by
the Heads of Government Council (Astana, 30 October 2008) was being
gradually carried out.
The parties acknowledged the expediency of taking effective measures
aimed to minimise the consequences of the global financial crisis and
encourage a closer regional trade, economic and investment cooperation
in the SCO region.
The SCO Business Council and Interbank Consortium are designed to play
an increasing role in this field and advised to proceed from the need
of more active transition from the mainly bilateral cooperation to the
implementation of multilateral projects.
The parties noted the importance of developing links in the social and
cultural fields in the SCO framework that assists the strengthening of
friendship and mutual understanding among peoples.
* * *
The heads of state highly appreciated the chairmanship of the Russian
Federation at the SCO and expressed gratitude to the Russian side for
its hospitality during Yekaterinburg summit.
The next meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council will be held in
2010 in Tashkent. According to the SCO Charter the duties of a state
holding chairmanship of the Organisation in the coming period are to
be taken over by the Republic of Uzbekistan.
YEKATERINBURG DECLARATION OF THE HEADS OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE
SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATION In accordance
with the outcome of the Heads of State Council meeting held on 15 and
16 June 2009 in Yekaterinburg the heads of the member states of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation state the following:
1. Serious changes are taking place in the contemporary international
environment. Aspiration to peace and sustainable development,
promotion of equal cooperation became the spirit of the times. The
tendency towards true multipolarity is irreversible. There is a
growing significance of the regional aspect in settling global
problems.
The SCO member states, reaffirming their commitment to common
development on the basis of the principles and provisions of the
Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Treaty on
Long-Term Good-Neighbourly Relations, Friendship and Cooperation among
the SCO Member States, consider as a priority task maintaining
constructive dialogue and deepening close interaction and partnership
to jointly seek effective ways of resolving global and regional
problems with the use of the growing potential and international
prestige of the SCO.
2. The SCO member states believe that international cooperation is a
basic and efficient instrument for countering new challenges and
threats, coping with the global financial crisis, ensuring energy and
food security and settling such a pressing issue as climate change.
3. The current situation in the global economic and financial sector
points to the need to increase cooperation of the international
community in the field of controlling and managing international
finances, making joint efforts to prevent the growth and spread of
financial crisis risks, maintaining economic stability.
The member states of the Organisation together with the international
community intend to make efforts for the formation of a more just,
equal, all-embracing and well-regulated international financial regime
which takes into account a true balance of interests of all its
participants and gives all States equal access to the advantages of
globalisation.
To that end interaction and sharing of information must be
strengthened as regards the international financial sector and the
issues of tackling the consequences of the global financial crisis in
the SCO region.
4. In current circumstances the SCO member states underline the
growing significance of bolstering trade, economic and investment
cooperation in the framework of the Organisation, including involving
the potential of the observer states and dialogue partners.
The parties noted the need to speed up the implementation of major
projects which are designed to ensure the expansion of transport
communication capabilities of the region and access to world markets,
development of social infrastructure, formation of modern
international centres for logistics, trade and tourism, construction
of new factories, introduction of innovative and energy-saving
technologies, including renewable sources of energy.
The implementation of these projects, arrangement of international
transport corridors, modernisation of railways and motorways will
create preconditions for strengthening the potential of the region as
a transcontinental bridge and giving a new impulse to the development
of economic links between Europe and Asia.
5. The SCO member states, noting the key significance of energy sector
for successful economic development and creation of favourable
preconditions for improving the living standards of their citizens,
express determination to further advance mutually beneficial
cooperation in this field on the basis of equality with the aim of
ensuring effective, reliable and environmentally safe energy supplies.
6. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation proceeds from the need to
further cement the legal foundations of international relations
determined by generally accepted principles and norms of the
international law and international obligations of States.
Strengthening the central and coordinating role of the United Nations
Organisation in world affairs, enhancing the effectiveness of its
mechanisms with the aim of adequately responding to modern challenges,
changing political and economic reality remains an urgent task. The
reform of the UN Security Council must gain as much wider consensus of
members of the international community.
The SCO member states intend to strengthen coordination on the issues
of reforming the UN and its Security Council.
7. The SCO member states stress the significance of the issue of
ensuring international information security as one of the key elements
of the common system of international security.
8. The SCO member states, reaffirming their commitment to a dialogue
of civilisations, values of peace, tolerance, mutual respect and
consent in international and interdenominational relations,
irrespective of ethnic origin, religious and other beliefs, oppose
drawing parallels between the fight against international terrorism
and confrontation against any particular religion.
9. Maintenance of international peace is possible only in conditions
of equal security for all States. The security of some states must not
be achieved to the detriment of the security of others.
Settlement of international and regional conflicts must be conducted
by political diplomatic means on the basis of the principles of
equality and mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs of
sovereign states.
The attempts to achieve unilateral advantages in defence field are
counterproductive as they undermine the strategic balance and
stability in the world, do not benefit confidence building, reduction
of arms and disarmament.
10. The SCO member states note that proliferation of nuclear weapons
poses a serious threat to international peace and security.
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NNPT) is the
basic element of the international regime on the prevention of
proliferation of nuclear weapons. Threats of proliferation of nuclear
weapons can and must be eliminated on the basis of the NNPT provided
that its parties unconditionally fulfill their obligations. The SCO
member states reaffirm their strong support for the NNPT, welcome the
multilateral efforts on its reinforcement, and are determined to move
towards raising the effectiveness of the Treaty on the basis of the
unity of its three key components: non-proliferation, disarmament,
peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The SCO member states reiterate their intention to assist further
implementation of the Russia – U.S. initiative on fighting against
acts of nuclear terrorism, and also welcome the coming into effect on
21 March 2009 of the Treaty on Establishing a Nuclear Free Zone in
Central Asia.
11. The SCO member states welcome the start of Russo-American
negotiations on drafting a Treaty on the Reduction of Offensive
Strategic Arms.
12. The SCO member states stand up for resuming the process of
negotiations on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. They
call to show restraint and continue the search for mutually acceptable
solutions on the basis of the previously reached agreements.
13. The SCO member states express grave concern over the complicated
situation in Afghanistan related to illicit drug trafficking,
terrorism and transnational organised crime which pose a threat to the
whole international community.
In this regard the parties acknowledged the need to increase
interaction with the SCO observer states, Afghanistan and other states
concerned, as well as with regional and international organisations,
first and foremost, the UN and its specialised institutions.
The SCO member states in close interaction with other states and
international organisations concerned intend to establish
anti-narcotic and financial security belts in the region.
14. The SCO member states welcome the end of an internal military
conflict in Sri Lanka, and express hope for establishing a firm peace,
strengthening security and stability in the country on the basis of
ensuring its state sovereignty and territorial integrity, guaranteeing
the rights of all ethnic and religious groups.
15. The SCO member states consider as a priority task enhancing the
effectiveness of interaction in the field of a timely joint response
to natural and manmade emergency events, implementing a set of
measures aimed to diminish their impact on society and economy.
16. The SCO member states attach special importance to strengthening
cooperation in the field of effective counteraction against the threat
of dangerous infections and other infectious diseases. To that end the
parties acknowledged the need to mobilise available resources and
launch joint work on preventing the spread of epidemic diseases.
17. The SCO member countries state that the Organisation has become an
essential element of the fledgling system of security and cooperation
in the Asia Pacific region.
Noting with satisfaction the growing interest of the international
community in establishing ties with the SCO, they welcome the joining
of the Republic of Belarus and the Democratic Socialist Republic of
Sri Lanka to cooperation in the SCO framework as dialogue partners.
The SCO member states stand ready to expand practical interaction with
the United Nations Organisation, Commonwealth of Independent States,
Association of South-East Asian Nations, Eurasian Economic Community,
Collective Security Treaty Organisation, Economic Cooperation
Organisation, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific, other international and regional organisations, and
to create on this basis a wide partnership network.
The SCO member states are open to dialogue aimed to bring States
closer together and facilitate the building of a more just world
order, to cement global stability and economic development.
CHARTER OF
THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATION
The People's Republic of China, the Republic of
Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic
of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan being the founding states
of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (hereinafter SCO or the
Organization),
Based on historically established ties between their peoples;
Striving for further enhancement of comprehensive cooperation;
Desiring to jointly contribute to the strengthening of peace and
ensuring of security and stability in the region in the environment of
developing political multipolarity and economic and information
globalization;
Being convinced that the establishment of SCO will facilitate more
efficient common use of opening possibilities and counteracting new
challenges and threats;
Considering that interaction within SCO will promote the realization
of a huge potential of goodneighborliness, unity and cooperation
between States and their peoples;
Proceeding from the spirit of mutual trust, mutual advantage,
equality, mutual consultations, respect for cultural variety and
aspiration for joint development that was clearly established at the
meeting of heads of six States in 2001 in Shanghai;
Noting that the compliance with the principles set out in the
Agreement between the People's Republic of China, the Republic of
Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation and the
Republic of Tajikistan on Strengthening Confidence in the Military
Field in the Border Area of 26 April, 1996, and in the Agreement
between the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Kazakhstan,
the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation and the Republic of
Tajikistan on Mutual Reductions of Armed Forces in the Border Area of
24 April , 1997, as well as in the documents signed at summits of
heads of the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Kazakhstan,
the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of
Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan in the period from 1998 to
2001, has made an important contribution to the maintenance of peace,
security and stability in the region and in the world;
Reaffirming our adherence to the goals and principles of the Charter
of the United Nations, other commonly acknowledged principles and
rules of international law related to the maintenance of international
peace, security and the development of goodneighborly and friendly
relations, as well as the cooperation between States;
Guided by the provisions of the Declaration on the Creation of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization of 15 June, 2001,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1. Goals and Tasks
The main goals and tasks of SCO are:
to strengthen mutual trust, friendship and goodneighborliness between
the member States;
to consolidate multidisciplinary cooperation in the maintenance and
strengthening of peace, security and stability in the region and
promotion of a new democratic, fair and rational political and
economic international order;
to jointly counteract terrorism, separatism and extremism in all their
manifestations, to fight against illicit narcotics and arms
trafficking and other types of criminal activity of a transnational
character, and also illegal migration;
to encourage the efficient regional cooperation in such spheres as
politics, trade and economy, defense, law enforcement, environment
protection, culture, science and technology, education, energy,
transport, credit and finance, and also other spheres of common
interest;
to facilitate comprehensive and balanced economic growth, social and
cultural development in the region through joint action on the basis
of equal partnership for the purpose of a steady increase of living
standards and improvement of living conditions of the peoples of the
member States;
to coordinate approaches to integration into the global economy;
to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with
the international obligations of the member States and their national
legislation;
to maintain and develop relations with other States and international
organizations;
to cooperate in the prevention of international conflicts and in their
peaceful settlement;
to jointly search for solutions to the problems that would arise in
the 21st century.
Article 2.Principles
The member States of SCO shall adhere to the following principles:
mutual respect of sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity of
States and inviolability of State borders, non-aggression,
non-interference in internal affairs, non-use of force or threat of
its use in international relations, seeking no unilateral military
superiority in adjacent areas;
equality of all member States, search of common positions on the basis
of mutual understanding and respect for opinions of each of them;
gradual implementation of joint activities in the spheres of mutual
interest;
peaceful settlement of disputes between the member States;
SCO being not directed against other States and international
organizations;
prevention of any illegitimate acts directed against the SCO
interests;
implementation of obligations arising out of the present Charter and
other documents adopted within the framework of SCO, in good faith.
Article 3. Areas of Cooperation
The main areas of cooperation within SCO shall be the following:
maintenance of peace and enhancing security and confidence in the
region;
search of common positions on foreign policy issues of mutual
interest, including issues arising within international organizations
and international fora;
development and implementation of measures aimed at jointly
counteracting terrorism, separatism and extremism, illicit narcotics
and arms trafficking and other types of criminal activity of a
transnational character, and also illegal migration;
coordination of efforts in the field of disarmament and arms control;
support for, and promotion of regional economic cooperation in various
forms, fostering favorable environment for trade and investments with
a view to gradually achieving free flow of goods, capitals, services
and technologies;
effective use of available transportation and communication
infrastructure, improvement of transit capabilities of member States
and development of energy systems;
sound environmental management, including water resources management
in the region, and implementation of particular joint environmental
programs and projects;
mutual assistance in preventing natural and man-made disasters and
elimination of their implications;
exchange of legal information in the interests of development of
cooperation within SCO;
development of interaction in such spheres as science and technology,
education, health care, culture, sports and tourism.
The SCO member States may expand the spheres of cooperation by mutual
agreement.
Article 4. Bodies
1. For the implementation of goals and objectives of the present
Charter the following bodies shall operate within the Organization:
The Council of Heads of State;
The Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers);
The Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs;
Meetings of Heads of Ministries and/or Agencies;
The Council of National Coordinators;
The Regional Counter-terrorist Structure;
Secretariat.
2. The functions and working procedures for the SCO bodies, other than
the Regional Counter-terrorist Structure, shall be governed by
appropriate provisions adopted by the Council of Heads of State.
3. The Council of Heads of State may decide to establish other SCO
bodies. New bodies shall be established by the adoption of additional
protocols to the present Charter which enter into force in the
procedure, set forth in Article 21 of this Charter.
Article 5. The Council of Heads of State
The Council of Heads of State shall be the supreme SCO body. It shall
determine priorities and define major areas of activities of the
Organization, decide upon the fundamental issues of its internal
arrangement and functioning and its interaction with other States and
international organizations, as well as consider the most topical
international issues.
The Council shall hold its regular meetings once a year. A meeting of
the Council of Heads of State shall be chaired by the head of State
organizing this regular meeting. The venue of a regular meeting of the
Council shall generally be determined in the Russian alphabetic order
of names of the SCO member States.
Article 6. The Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers)
The Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) shall approve the
budget of the Organization, consider and decide upon major issues
related to particular, especially economic, spheres of interaction
within the Organization.
The Council shall hold its regular meetings once a year. A meeting of
the Council shall be chaired by the head of Government (Prime
Minister) of the State on whose territory the meeting takes place.
The venue of a regular meeting of the Council shall be determined by
prior agreement among heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the
member States.
Article 7. The Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs
The Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs shall consider issues
related to day-to-day activities of the Organization, preparation of
meetings of the Council of Heads of State and holding of consultations
on international problems within the Organization. The Council may, as
appropriate, make statements on behalf of SCO.
The Council shall generally meet one month prior to a meeting of the
Council of Heads of State. Extraordinary meetings of the Council of
Ministers of Foreign Affairs shall be convened on the initiative of at
least two member States and upon consent of ministers of foreign
affairs of all other member States. The venue of a regular or
extraordinary meeting of the Council shall be determined by mutual
agreement.
The Council shall be chaired by the minister of foreign affairs of the
member State on whose territory the regular meeting of the Council of
Heads of State takes place, during the period starting from the date
of the last ordinary meeting of the Council of Heads of State to the
date of the next ordinary meeting of the Council of Heads of State.
The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs shall
represent the Organization in its external contacts, in accordance
with the Rules of Procedure of the Council.
Article 8. Meetings of Heads of Ministries and/or Agencies
According to decisions of the Council of Heads of State and the
Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) heads of branch
ministries and/or agencies of the member States shall hold, on a
regular basis, meetings for consideration of particular issues of
interaction in respective fields within SCO.
A meeting shall be chaired by the head of a respective ministry and/or
agency of the State organizing the meeting. The venue and date of a
meeting shall be agreed upon in advance.
For the preparation and holding meetings the member States may, upon
prior agreement, establish permanent or ad hoc working groups of
experts which carry out their activities in accordance with the
regulations adopted by the meetings of heads of ministries and/or
agencies. These groups shall consist of representatives of ministries
and/or agencies of the member States.
Article 9. The Council of National Coordinators
The Council of National Coordinators shall be a SCO body that
coordinates and directs day-to-day activities of the Organization. It
shall make the necessary preparation for the meetings of the Council
of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government (Prime
Ministers) and the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs. National
coordinators shall be appointed by each member State in accordance
with its internal rules and procedures.
The Council shall hold its meetings at least three times a year. A
meeting of the Council shall be chaired by the national coordinator of
the member State on whose territory the regular meeting of the Council
of Heads of State takes place, from the date of the last ordinary
meeting of the Council of Heads of State to the date of the next
ordinary meeting of the Council of Heads of State.
The Chairman of the Council of National Coordinators may on the
instruction of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Foreign
Affairs represent the Organization in its external contacts, in
accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Council of National
Coordinators.
Article 10. Regional Counter-Terrorist Structure
The Regional Counter-terrorist Structure established by the member
States of the Shanghai Convention to combat terrorism, separatism and
extremism of 15 June, 2001, located in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic,
shall be a standing SCO body.
Its main objectives and functions, principles of its constitution and
financing, as well as its rules of procedure shall be governed by a
separate international treaty concluded by the member States, and
other necessary instruments adopted by them.
Article 11. Secretariat
Secretariat shall be a standing SCO administrative body. It shall
provide organizational and technical support to the activities carried
out in the framework of SCO and prepare proposals on the annual budget
of the Organization.
The Secretariat shall be headed by the Executive Secretary to be
appointed by the Council of Heads of State on nomination by the
Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
The Executive Secretary shall be appointed from among the nationals of
member States on a rotational basis in the Russian alphabetic order of
the member States' names for a period of three years without a right
to be reappointed for another period.
The Executive Secretary deputies shall be appointed by the Council of
Ministers of Foreign Affairs on nomination by the Council of National
Coordinators. They cannot be representatives of the State from which
the Executive Secretary has been appointed.
The Secretariat officials shall be recruited from among nationals of
the member States on a quota basis.
The Executive Secretary, his deputies and other Secretariat officials
in fulfilling their official duties should not request or receive
instructions from any member State and/or government, organization or
physical persons. They should refrain from any actions that might
affect their status as international officials reporting to SCO only.
The member States shall undertake to respect the international
character of the duties of the Executive Secretary, his deputies and
Secretariat staff and not to exert any influence upon them as they
perform their official functions.
The SCO Secretariat shall be located at Beijing (the People's Republic
of China).
Article 12. Financing
SCO shall have its own budget drawn up and executed in accordance with
a special agreement between member States. This agreement shall also
determine the amount of contributions paid annually by member States
to the budget of the Organization on the basis of a cost-sharing
principle.
Budgetary resources shall be used to finance standing SCO bodies in
accordance with the above agreement. The member States shall cover
themselves the expenses related to the participation of their
representatives and experts in the activities of the Organization.
Article 13. Membership
The SCO membership shall be open for other States in the region that
undertake to respect the objectives and principles of this Charter and
to comply with the provisions of other international treaties and
instruments adopted in the framework of SCO.
The admission of new members to SCO shall be decided upon by the
Council of Heads of State on the basis of a representation made by the
Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in response to an official
request from the State concerned addressed to the acting Chairman of
the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
SCO membership of a member State violating the provisions of this
Charter and/or systematically failing to meet its obligations under
international treaties and instruments, concluded in the framework of
SCO, may be suspended by a decision of the Council of Heads of State
adopted on the basis of a representation made by the Council of
Ministers of Foreign Affairs. If this State goes on violating its
obligations, the Council of Heads of State may take a decision to
expel it from SCO as of the date fixed by the Council itself.
Any member State shall be entitled to withdraw from SCO by
transmitting to the Depositary an official notification of its
withdrawal from this Charter no later than twelve months before the
date of withdrawal. The obligations arising from participation in this
Charter and other instruments adopted within the framework of SCO
shall be binding for the corresponding States until they are
completely fulfilled.
Article 14. Relationship with Other States and International
Organizations
SCO may interact and maintain dialogue, in particular in certain areas
of cooperation, with other States and international organizations.
SCO may grant to the State or international organization concerned the
status of a dialogue partner or observer. The rules and procedures for
granting such a status shall be established by a special agreement of
member States.
This Charter shall not affect the rights and obligations of the member
States under other international treaties in which they participate.
Article 15. Legal Capacity
As a subject of international law, SCO shall have international legal
capacity. It shall have such a legal capacity in the territory of each
member State, which is required to achieve its goals and objectives.
SCO shall enjoy the rights of a legal person and may in particular:
- conclude treaties;
- acquire movable and immovable property and dispose of it;
- appear in court as litigant;
- open accounts and have monetary transactions made.
Article 16. Decisions-Taking Procedure
The SCO bodies shall take decisions by agreement without vote and
their decisions shall be considered adopted if no member State has
raised objections during the vote (consensus), except for the
decisions on suspension of membership or expulsion from the
Organization that shall be taken by "consensus minus one vote of the
member State concerned".
Any member State may expose its opinion on particular aspects and/or
concrete issues of the decisions taken which shall not be an obstacle
to taking the decision as a whole. This opinion shall be placed on
record.
Should one or several member States be not interested in implementing
particular cooperation projects of interest to other member States,
non participation of the abovesaid member States in these projects
shall not prevent the implementation of such cooperation projects by
the member States concerned and, at the same time, shall not prevent
the said member States from joining such projects at a later stage.
Article 17. Implementation of Decisions
The decisions taken by the SCO bodies shall be implemented by the
member States in accordance with the procedures set out in their
national legislation.
Control of the compliance with obligations of the member States to
implement this Charter, other agreements and decisions adopted within
SCO shall be exercised by the SCO bodies within their competence.
Article 18. Permanent Representatives
In accordance with their domestic rules and procedures, the member
States shall appoint their permanent representatives to the SCO
Secretariat, which will be members of the diplomatic staff of the
embassies of the member States in Beijing.
Article 19. Privileges and Immunities
SCO and its officials shall enjoy in the territories of all member
States the privileges and immunities which are necessary for
fulfilling functions and achieving goals of the Organization.
The volume of privileges and immunities of SCO and its officials shall
be determined by a separate international treaty.
Article 20. Languages
The official and working languages of SCO shall be Russian and
Chinese.
Article 21. Duration and Entry into Force
This Charter shall be of indefinite duration.
This Charter shall be subject to ratification by signatory States and
shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of the
deposit of the fourth instrument of ratification.
For a State which signed this Charter and ratified it thereafter it
shall enter into force on the date of the deposit of its instrument of
ratification with the Depositary.
Upon its entering into force this Charter shall be open for accession
by any State.
For each acceding State this Charter shall enter into force on the
thirtieth day following the date of receiving by the Depositary of
appropriate instruments of accession.
Article 22. Settlement of Disputes
In case of disputes or controversies arising out of interpretation or
application of this Charter member States shall settle them through
consultations and negotiations.
Article 23. Amendments and Additions
By mutual agreement of member States this Charter can be amended and
supplemented.
Decisions by the
Council of Heads of State concerning amendments and additions shall be
formalized by separate protocols which shall be its integral part and
enter into force in accordance with the procedure provided for by
Article 21 of this Charter.
Article 24. Reservations
No reservations can be made to this Charter which contradict the
principles, goals and objectives of the Organization and could prevent
any SCO body from performing its functions. If at least two thirds of
member States have objections the reservations must be considered as
contradicting the principles, goals and objectives of the Organization
or preventing any body from performing its functions and being null
and void.
Article 25. Depositary
The People's Republic of China shall be the Depositary of this
Charter.
Article 26. Registration
Pursuant to Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations, this
Charter is subject to registration with the Secretariat of the United
Nations.
Done at Saint-Petersburg the seventh day of June 2002 in a single
original in the Chinese and Russian languages, both texts being
equally authoritative.
The original copy of this Charter shall be deposited with the
Depositary who will circulate its certified copies to all signatory
States.
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