DUSHANBE, November 2, 2010, Asia-Plus — Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov will pay visits to Tajikistan on sidelines of the next meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that is expected to take place in Dushanbe on November 25, Asia-Plus has learned from a source at the Tajik Government.
During their visits, the Russian and Kazakh premiers are expected to discuss with high-ranking Tajik state officials issues related to economic and military-and-technical cooperation.
“Kazakhstan, for instance, is interested in product market for its gain, industrial and oil products, while Russia will probably discuss with Tajik authorities the use of the Ayni military airfield in Hissar district,” the source said.
According to him, prime ministers of all member nations of he Organization are expected to attend the meeting in Dushanbe.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental mutual-security organization which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Except for Uzbekistan, the other countries had been members of the Shanghai Five, founded in 1996; after the inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed the organization.
The Council of Heads of Government is the second-highest council in the organization. This council also holds annual summits, at which time members discuss issues of multilateral cooperation. The council also approves the organization”s budget.
