Moscow invites Turkey to Shanghai forum on Afghanistan

MOSCOW. February 24. KAZINFORM Russia, which holds the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), has invited NATO member Turkey to an SCO conference on the situation in Afghanistan, scheduled to be held in Moscow on March 27.

A statement released Thursday by the Russian Foreign Ministry said the meeting would discuss the "situation in Afghanistan and its influence on neighboring states, boosting joint efforts by the international community to counteract terrorism, illegal drug trade and trans-border organized crime from Afghan territory." The SCO regional security group is made up of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Russia took over the presidency of the organization last August. Iran, India, Mongolia and Pakistan have observer status. The meeting in Moscow will come only days before a key NATO summit on April 3-4, when heads of state from NATO member nations will discuss the issue of committing more forces to Afghanistan, Kazinform quotes Today's Zaman.