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Situation in Afghanistan causes concern as international forces reduced

SCO must take a more active part in the process of reconstruction in Afghanistan, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev believes

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

BISHKEK, September 13 (Itar-Tass) - The situation in Afghanistan causes concern, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev said at the SCO Head of State Council meeting on Friday.

Prevention of threats from Afghanistan remains the main factor to ensure regional security, he noted.

The situation in the country causes particular concern in connection with the considerable reduction of military contingents of the International Security Assistance Force, the president said.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) must take a more active part in the process of reconstruction in Afghanistan, he believes.

The Kyrgyz President invited representatives of state structures and scientific circles of SCO countries to participate in the international scientific conference on Afghanistan that will take place in Bishkek on October 10, 2013 "to work out joint measures and common approaches to the issues".

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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Vasily Anokhin urged local residents to remain calm and refrain from filming air defenses in operation.

CIA chief says Ukraine could lose by end of this year — Politico

William Burns said "there is a very real risk that the Ukrainians could at least put Putin in a position where he could essentially dictate the terms of a political settlement"