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Putin says security key task of SCO

The Russian leader says the SCO should continue immproving security efforts, calls for copperation with international organizations

© Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

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TASHKENT, June 24. /TASS/. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin called a key direction of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) providing of security in all the country’s territories.

"We should continue improving potential of the regional anti-terrorist structure, coordination of law enforcers in the framework of the UN and other international organizations," Putin told a meeting of the member states’ leaders on Friday.

The Russian president said SCO should work more effectively on the Organization’s draft convention on fighting extremism, should improve the legal base for cooperation in the sphere of information security.

Anti-terrorism fight

Putin went on to say that the SCO jointly with authorities of Afghanistan should be fighting the terrorist threat coming from that country.

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"Of course, the situation in Afghanistan requires special attention," he said. "It is important that jointly with the Afghani counterparts we fight actively the threat of terrorism and trans-border crime, coming from that country, we should work on stopping production and distribution of drugs."

The member countries should help Afghanistan in reaching national accord and in the economic recovery.

Barriers in trade must be removed

The Russian leader called on member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to remove barriers in trade and capital flows.

"An important component of SCO’s activities is development of close economic cooperation," the president said. "We should continue removing barriers in trade, in movement of capitals and labor force, we should develop industrial and technology cooperation."

It is also important to develop in SCO territory "industrial chains" and the transport infrastructures, the Russian president said.

India, Pakistan admission

Putin said he hopes that India and Pakistan will be admitted to the SCO maximally quickly - by the next SCO summit in Kazakhstan in 2017.

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India, Pakistan to make SCO more influential — Putin

The Russian leader said at a meeting of the SCO heads of state, "We hope that the partners will be able to pass the remaining procedures maximally quickly, by our next meeting in Kazakhstan. And now it is necessary to deal directly with the integration of India and Pakistan into the SCO working interaction mechanisms, such as the Council of the heads of government and regular meetings of the foreign ministers," Putin said.

The president also said he hoped that the current summit will result in the adoption of the commitment memorandums with which India and Pakistan will have to comply for getting the SCO membership status.

According to the Russian leader, the decision on the beginning of the procedure of accession of these countries to SCO was adopted at the organization’s last year’s summit in Ufa and it is now entering the final stage.

Iran's membership

According to the Russian leader, no obstacles exist for admitting Iran to the SCO

"Iran has been taking a proactive part in the organization’s work as observer for a long while, since 2005. I think that after the resolution of the Iranian nuclear problem and lifting of the UN sanctions there are no obstacles for a positive answer to Iran’s request," Putin said.

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Foreign policy Vladimir Putin Fight against terrorism SCO

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