Pashinyan: Armenia applies to join SCO membership

Armenia has officially submitted an application to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced during a press conference on July 16.

Pashinyan said that the move aligns with Armenia’s strategy of maintaining a balanced foreign policy, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media. 

He noted that while Armenia currently holds observer status within the SCO, ongoing discussions within the organisation regarding structural reforms may result in the removal of this status. This potential change, he indicated, was one of the factors behind the decision to seek full membership.

Earlier, on July 3, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the country’s interest in joining the SCO, stating that Yerevan supports the organisation’s core principles, which include respect for territorial integrity, the non-use of force, and the inviolability of borders.

By Sabina Mammadli