DUSHANBE, June 23. /TASS/. The pandemic aftermath may catalyze the spread of threats of terrorism, extremism, drug trade and organized crime. According to press service of the Russian Security Council’s office, the annual meeting of secretaries of SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) nations' security councils held in Dushanbe on Wednesday focused on that.
"It was noted that the devastating effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has become a harsh lesson for the whole global community. It was stressed that the social and economic consequences of the novel coronavirus infection pandemic may catalyze the spread of threats of terrorism, extremism, drug trade and organized crime," according to the statement following the meeting attended by Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Nikolai Patrushev.
Due to that the participants of the meeting "supported coordinated and comprehensive measures aimed at ensuring reliable security and sustainable social and economic development on the SCO space," the press service said.
The next meeting of secretaries of SCO countries’ security councils will be held in Uzbekistan in 2022.
The declaration on SCO establishment was signed in Shanghai in June 2001 by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In 2017, India and Pakistan became full-fledged SCO members. Moreover, four observer countries (Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia) and six dialogue partners (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey and Sri Lanka) also participate in the work of the organization.