India: Armenia, Azerbaijan’s SCO membership applications under review

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is still considering the membership applications of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

He noted that both countries submitted their applications this year, but due to time constraints, SCO member states were unable to make a decision on the matter at the recent summit in Tianjin, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Earlier, media reports indicated that India had blocked Azerbaijan’s application to join the organisation as a full member, while Pakistan had blocked Armenia’s application.

Earlier, Russia’s special presidential representative for SCO affairs, Bakhtiar Hakimov, indicated at a briefing that the overall attitude toward Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s participation in the organisation was positive. He added that the topic of blocking membership had not been raised at either the working or political levels.

By Sabina Mammadli