DUSHANBE, July 31, 2008, Asia-Plus – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has no intention to bring in new states, the organization”s general secretary said on Wednesday.
Bolat Nurgaliyev said the question of enlargement “is not on the agenda yet.”
However, Nurgaliyev indicated that the organization was open to cooperation with non-members, to which end the status of “SCO dialogue partner” is to be introduced at a SCO heads of state meeting in Dushanbe on August 28.
“The new status will be granted to states or international organizations that are interested in cooperation with the SCO in some area or other,” he said.
Iran and Pakistan previously announced their desire to become permanent members of the organization, but a SCO foreign ministers meeting in Tajikistan on July 25 did not consider their request.
Iranian Security Council chief Saeed Jalili said earlier on Wednesday that the Islamic Republic “has great potential for ensuring peace and progress in the world.”
“This potential is a good opportunity for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” he told Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, on a visit to Tehran.
The SCO imposed a moratorium on new admissions two years ago.
Iran and Pakistan, observer states at the SCO since 2005, have sought full membership in the post-Soviet regional bloc comprising Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. The SCO is widely seen as a counterweight to NATO”s influence in Eurasia.
The group primarily addresses security issues, but has recently moved to embrace various economic and energy projects.
