MOSCOW, June 3 (Itar-Tass) —— Moscow stands for the enlargement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which will give it a fresh boost, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Xinhua ahead of the SCO Beijing summit.
“Obviously, regional security threats may be deterred efficiency with collective efforts only,” he said, referring to the SCO summit consideration of the observer status of Afghanistan and the partner status of Turkey. “In this context there is no alternative to the enlargement of the SCO, an interest in which is growing steadily inside and outside of the region. We are confident that the admission of such countries as India and Pakistan, which have the observer status at present, will strengthen the SCO potential and international authority. The ‘fresh blood’ will give a boost to the organization and promote its modernization.”
“SCO enlargement aspects are under consideration. Financial, legal and administrative terms of the admission of new members are being coordinated. That is the mandatory homework any international organization must do while preparing for its enlargement,” the minister said.
“Meanwhile, observers and partners already have wide opportunities for contributing to the SCO activity. We welcome the official appeals of Afghanistan for the observer status and of Turkey for the partner status. Hopefully, the chiefs of SCO states will support these appeals at the Beijing summit,” Lavrov said.