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Syria applies for observer status at Shanghai security bloc — Russian Foreign Ministry

The Eurasian political, economic and military organization has applications for the status of a full-fledged member from Pakistan, Iran and India

© AP Photo/Diaa Hadid

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MOSCOW, February 13. /TASS/. Syria has filed an application for an observer status at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russian Presidential Envoy for SCO Affairs and Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Department for Asian and Pacific Cooperation Bakhtier Khakimov said on Friday.

"The issue of the Organization’s expansion is a topic we are currently working on," he said.

"As of today, we have applications for the status of a full-fledged member from Pakistan, Iran and India. Besides, a number of countries are requesting to grant them an observer status, particularly, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bangladesh and Nepal. Recently, we have received a request from Syria," the Russian diplomat said.

China, Russia and four Central Asian republics - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - established the SCO in 2001 as a regional security bloc to fight threats posed by radical Islam and drug trafficking from neighboring Afghanistan.

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Foreign policy Russian Foreign Ministry Syria SCO

Middle East conflict

Turkey seeks justice against Israel for genocide in Gaza — Erdogan’s Party

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ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant for alleged crimes in Gaza Strip

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Official declines to say if US gives Ukraine targeting data for Storm Shadow missiles

US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller also declined to discuss the presumed first strike on Russia with the missiles

Humanitarian crisis in Kiev-controlled Kupyansk district of Kharkov Region near critical

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Ukraine, not Russia, posing a threat to the Baltic region — Kremlin

Two underwater cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea on November 17 and 18

Putin previously warned about Kiev's attempts to blow up TurkStream pipeline — Kremlin

According to the newspaper, Zaluzhny was so enthusiastic about the Nord Stream pipelines sabotage that he "even wanted to expand" the operation

Russian troops liberate Dalneye community in Donbass region over past day

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Indonesia accepts invitation to become partner state in BRICS, ambassador announces

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Japanese lawmaker urges global condemnation of decision on missile strikes on Russia

Muneo Suzuki described Joe Biden’s decision as "dangerous and provocative"

Russian ambassador says UK prime minister doesn’t understand situation in Ukraine

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Zelensky begs ‘for his country to be flattened’ — US journalist

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Trump may soon start talks with Russia following Biden’s decision on ATACMS — news agency

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Jeremy Corbyn called for de-escalation of the situationin Ukraine and the search for a diplomatic solution to achieve peace

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Press review: Russian air defenses can down Western missiles as EU conducts live exercise

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US decision on missile strikes aimed at provoking Russia, expert says

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US is now at war with Russia, Ritter says

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Trump's new presidency will be fundamentally different from his first — expert in the US

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UK police say no video evidence of Russians’ involvement in Salisbury case

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Press review: US lets Kiev use anti-personnel mines and Iran may halt uranium enrichment

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Moscow hopes West will thoroughly analyze Russia's nuclear doctrine — ambassador

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Russian embassy warns UK about dangers of calling for Moscow’s ‘defeat’

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Japanese lawmaker praises Putin's restraint amid decision to strike deep into Russia

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Ukraine has around 50 ATACMS missiles — The Times

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Rubicon center drones hit Ukrainian equipment in Russia's Kursk Region

The Russian Defense Ministry released footage showing the destruction of the enemy equipment

Putin orders protection of critical infrastructure, including Crimean Bridge — Kremlin

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Russian diplomat accuses West of using coercive measures to punish certain countries

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Moscow-Washington hotline not in use now — Kremlin spokesman

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French Foreign Ministry refuses to disclose number of SCALP missiles shipped to Ukraine

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More desperation in Zelensky's appeals, ex-NATO commander says

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Trump to continue using Ukraine to contain Russia — Valdai program director

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Decision on strikes inside Russia seals US puppet Zelensky’s fate — commentator

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Moscow won’t allow US to silence UNSC as Washington backs Israel — Russian UN envoy

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Ukraine’s former top commander sought to blow up Turkish Stream pipeline, report says

According to the media, Valery Zaluzhny was so thrilled when he learned of plans to sabotage the submarine Nord Stream pipelines across the Baltic Sea that he sought to expand that operation

Residents of Kupyansk, Kovsharovka in Kharkov Region returning to their homes

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Russian forces dislodge Ukrainian troops from half of positions in Kurakhovo in DPR

The Ukrainian military is attempting to move reserves to the city’s western outskirts as shown by data-recording equipment, the source said

Russia must be able to defend itself — Erdogan on revised nuclear doctrine

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Weapons supplied to Ukraine cannot reach Russian territory, Spanish defense minister says

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Romanian presidential candidate vows to end military aid to Ukraine

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Russia’s reaction to Austrian OMV’s failure to pay for gas justified — MFA

The company stated it would seek damages amounting to 230 million euro for failing to receive the contracted volume of gas from the Russian company for delivery to Germany

Xi Jinping calls for unification of more voices for peace in Ukraine

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Defeating Ukrainian forces near Olgovskaya wood, enemy losses: situation in Kursk Region

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Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

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US Senate refuses to block arms supplies to Israel

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Russian troops liberate Ilyinka community in Donbass region over past day

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Kremlin condemns report on Storm Shadow missile use against Russian targets as escalation

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Biden's decision on missile strikes on Russia is his 'last gasp' — Japanese lawmaker

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Putin confirms Russia’s readiness to assist CAR with security challenges

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Russian troops advance in areas north, south of Velikaya Novoselka in DPR — official

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Kiev suffering fiasco on entire front line — aide to DPR head

Igor Kimakovsky said that "if the West is not physically involved in this war, that is, if NATO is not involved, then Ukraine is actually losing"

Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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