FM: Russia sees efforts to undermine SCO’s role

Russia has accused outside forces of attempting to diminish the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the region and pledged to take all measures to prevent such efforts, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

Talking to a meeting with SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev, he noted that not only individual states or regions but international organisations as a whole are facing enormous challenges as a platform for advancing collective foreign policy ideas, Caliber.Az reports, citing TASS.

“In this turbulent environment, the SCO, I believe, performs very admirably. We will do everything to ensure that attempts to weaken our organisation or diminish its significance and role in Eurasian affairs do not succeed. We are observing such attempts,” Lavrov added.

The minister added that non-regional countries are “actively operating in Central Asia and in other areas” of the Eurasian continent.

Lavrov also emphasised the SCO’s significant potential in addressing Eurasian challenges through constructive dialogue and joint projects.

“We clearly see the immense potential of your organisation in resolving Eurasian issues through positive dialogue, constructive projects, both in the material and logistics spheres — what we call the Greater Eurasian Partnership — and, of course, in strengthening collective security for all countries in the region,” he stressed.

He stated that the SCO’s unique position, as its mandate encompasses security, trade and economic cooperation, social initiatives, and transport projects.

“Looking forward, we are eager to hear your assessments and the Secretariat’s vision for moving forward,” Lavrov told the SCO secretary-general.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov