DUSHANBE, June 2 2015, Asia-Plus – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) numbers may grow at the next Organization’s summit that will take place in Ufa, Russia from July 9-10, Tajik political scientist and journalist Nourali Davlat told Asia-Plus in an interview.
According to him, Mongolia, which has the status of observer state, has a good chance to become a full member of the Organization.
“Mongolia does not have political problems with any countries in the world,” said Davlat. “Moreover, Mongolia has common border with two leading member nations of the SCO – Russia and China – that will allow Mongolia to enter the Organization.”
Besides, there is a high probability that Belarus, which is now SCO’s dialogue partner, will be granted the status of observer nation, the expert noted.
Asked about Iran’s chances to become a full member of the SCO, Nourali Davlat noted that Iran still has many disagreements with many countries of the world, especially on its nuclear program.
Founded by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on June 15, 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization. Except for Uzbekistan, the other countries had been members of the Shanghai Five; after the inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed the organization.
The Organization currently has six full members — China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan and India are four observer states, and SCO’s dialogue partners include Belarus, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
The Organization’s six full members account for 60% of the land mass of Eurasia and its population is a quarter of the world”s population. With observer states included, its affiliates account for about half of the world”s population.
