MOSCOW, June 6, 2002. /From RIA Novosti
correspondent/.
Interview with Alexander Yakovenko, spokesman of Russian foreign ministry.
Question: Heads of SCO member-countries are scheduled to meet on June 7
in St Petersburg. What are the main issues on its agenda?
Answer: These are above all further work to form mechanisms of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), wider multilateral coordination
of efforts between member-countries, and examination of pressing issues of
international life.
The St Petersburg summit signalises that the SCO has reached a
qualitatively new stage in its development. The signing of its charter --
the basic SCO statutory document -- will put the organisation on an
international legal foundation. Also drafted is an agreement on an SCO
regional anti-terrorist structure (RATS), whose creation is envisaged by
the Shanghai convention on the fight against terrorism, separatism and
extremism. RATS will become the first treaty-based and
permanently-functioning SCO body. This is the way in which the
member-countries are demonstrating their determination to promote
concerted action in eliminating these threats.
The SCO heads of state are also expected to sign a political
declaration.
Question: Could you describe in more detail the process by which the
SCO arose and developed?
Answer: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is based on the Shanghai
Five (Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China and Tajikistan), which shaped
up following the conclusion between them of an agreement on
confidence-building measures in the military field in the border area
(1996) and of an agreement on mutual reductions of armed forces in the
border area (1997). On June 15, 2001 the five heads of state, as well as
Uzbekistan, met in Shanghai to sign a declaration on the establishment of
the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
The signing at the upcoming summit of the SCO Charter and other
statutory documents will complete the work of establishing the SCO as a
full-fledged international organisation.
Question: What are the practical results of SCO activity over the
recent period?
Answer: In parallel with progress in legal formalisation of the SCO
efforts are gathering pace in coordination of practical work between
member-countries in various areas. At their first meeting (September 14,
2001, Almaty) heads of government defined ways of economic integration
within the organisation. At a meeting in Shanghai (late in May of this
year) foreign ministers agreed to institute an appropriate mechanism.
There were also meetings between heads of defence ministries (May), border
services (April) and departments responsible for dealing with emergencies
(April).
All organisation participants have an interest in the SCO becoming an
effective instrument for strengthening security, stability and cooperation
in Central Asia and adjoining areas. The heads of state are expected to
adopt an appropriate decision on this score.
Question: Russia was one of the sponsors of the SCO. How does Moscow
visualise the future of this regional organisation, particularly as
regards its collaboration with other international structures?
Answer: Steady growth of the SCO and its conversion into a
system-forming factor of regional security is in the mainstream of
international development. The world is increasingly realising that we can
find replies to the challenges now facing humanity only by pooling
together the efforts of all countries. A new system of international
relations, based on the principles of many-sided coordination and
partnership, is currently in the making.
The SCO is not a military bloc, nor a closed alliance. The organisation
is open to wide international cooperation in accordance with the
principles and purposes of the UN Charter, with due account taken of
mutual interests and common approaches to solving regional and global
problems. Member-countries are teaming up not just against anyone in
particular, but against those threats and challenges that pose danger to
humanity.
The SCO's main goal is peace, security and prosperity of peoples of its
member-countries, and stability and development in the region and the
world in general. The organisation, which is in the works, is already
being perceived as a constituted geopolitical reality, a major player in
international life. Some countries and international associations have
expressed a wish to establish contacts with the SCO. We accept all these
signals in a positive light. At present the organisation is mulling
various schemes for joint work with other international associations and
individual states.
The idea is to make these as flexible and constructive as possible. As
for SCO enlargement prospects, they can be taken up in practical terms
after the Charter and other regulatory documents take effect.
sergei ivanov: russia-nato
council opens ...
shanghai cooperation organisation
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