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Russia supports Azerbaijan’s accession to SCO as observer — envoy

Azerbaijan’s authority is growing, and accession to the SCO would comply with this trend, Mikhail Bocharnikov noted

BAKU, March 30. /TASS/. Moscow supports Azerbaijan’s admission to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as an observer, says Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Bocharnikov.

"A participation of both Azerbaijan and Russia in the SCO will make it possible to increase bilateral cooperation in a number of trade, economic and cultural areas," the diplomat noted.

At the same time, the envoy added, a tighter cooperation between Azerbaijan and the SCO "must originate from the country’s own positions."

"Azerbaijan enjoys big authority on the international arena, the country’s authority is growing, and accession to the SCO would comply with this trend," he said.

The declaration of establishment of the SCO was signed in 2001 in Shanghai by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In 2017, Indian and Pakistan became full members of the organization. Azerbaijan currently has a dialogue partner status.

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