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Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has great plans for future

Changes in these relations are accompanied by rising turbulence at the global and regional levels

MOSCOW, June 3 (Itar-Tass) — The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has great plans for future, sad on Sunday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview with the Xinhua news agency on the eve of the SCO summit in Beijing next week.

“International relations are at a turning stage,” the Russian minister stated. “Changes in these relations are accompanied by rising turbulence at the global and regional levels. The dangerous unbalancing of the entire system of global administration takes place before our own eyes.”

“Aftermaths of the financial and economic crisis have not been overcome up to the end; negative factors in the world economy which can bring about its second wave continue piling up,” the minister stressed. “The conflict potential persists, and threats to security multiply.”

“Under these conditions, the SCO priority task remains regional security and stability, consolidation of the potential of responding to various threats and countering terrorism, separatism, extremism, illicit drug trafficking and transborder organized crime,” Lavrov emphasized.

In the minister’s words, the upcoming meeting of the SCO heads of state in Beijing on June 6-7 “will be an important stage of consolidating cooperation in tackling problems the Organisation faces”. “The leaders of our countries will have to sign a Declaration on building a region of a lasting peace and joint prosperity,” the minister informed.

“A serious conceptual document is submitted for the consideration of the heads of state: Guidelines of a SCO development strategy for a mid-term perspective, formulating the key benchmarks for further development of our association.”

“Of great importance will be the approval of a new wording of the Regulations on political and diplomatic measures and mechanisms for responding to situations, putting into jeopardy peace, security and stability in the region, drafted with an account for experience and lessons of the dynamically changing international situation,” Lavrov continued.

“Struggle against the drug threat also assumes top importance for security of our region.”

“The SCO now is a closely-knit group of like-minded people, firmly bent on developing actively a trustworthy political dialogue, equal and mutually advantageous economic and humanitarian cooperation as well as on expanding international relations,” the minister said in conclusion.

“I’m sure that our Organisation has good prospects and great future.”