SCO summit in Bishkek to discuss Afghanistan situation – Sergei Lavrov

CHOLPON-ATA - BISHKEK. July 15. KAZINFORM - At a meeting of the Council of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Minister in Cholpon-Ata, there have been made important decisions on a number of topical international issues including the situation in Afghanistan.

As Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, reported at a press briefing, Ministerial Council meeting focused on preparation for SCO summit which will be held in September 13, 2013 in Bishkek. SCO member-states Ministries of Foreign Affairs together with officials of the Secretariat and Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) discussed the summit's agenda and a set of documents expected to be signed. Among these documents is a draft action programn for 2013-2017 to implement the provisions of the Treaty on long-term good-neighborly friendship and cooperation between SCO member states.

Another important document that will be presented to be endorsed is called Bishkek Declaration project, which assumes presentation of six approaches towards topical international problems.

Majot target nowadays is the problem of effective joint action against global threats and challenges and particular concern about the situation in Middle East (civil war in Syria and the problem of nuclear research in Iran) as well as in North Africa.

It bears to remind that SCO meeting held on Saturday was attended by the Kazakh delegation headed by Kairat Sarybai, Deputy Foreign Minister. The event also involved Erlan Abdyldayev, Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Kyrgyzstan, Sergey Lavrov, Russian MFA, Wang Yi, Chinese MFA, Abdulaziz Kamilov, MFA of Uzbekistan, Hamrokhon Zarifi, MFA of Tajikistan and Dmitry Mezentsev, the SCO Secretary-General.