SCO member-states uphold peaceful resolution of Afghan problem under UN auspices

Member-states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) uphold the resolution in Afghanistan by peaceful means under the U.N. auspices, SCO Secretary-General Dmitry Mezentsev said. Speaking at 1st session of the SCO Diplomatic Club on Friday, Mezentsev said the SCO favoured peace and prosperity in Afghanistan, which would be free of terrorism, drugs and crime. In 2012 Afghanistan was given the observer status in the SCO. During the meeting, Afghan President Hamid Karzai noted “visible progress” that the country had achieved in the last 10 years. He spoke about the situation in the world and in the region by saying it was important to step up the efforts aimed at fighting terrorism. The Afghan president named cooperation economic cooperation between the SCO countries as one of the priorities. The SCO is a regional international structure, which was founded by the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in 2001. Afghanistan, India, Iran, Pakistan and Mongolia are the SCO observer countries. Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka have the partner’s status. The SCO Secretariat is headquartered in Beijing.