On 13-14 July, a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan under the chairmanship of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, Sirojiddin Muhriddin. The SCO Ministerial Council meeting is a key event leading to the anniversary SCO summit, which will be held on 16-17 September in Dushanbe.
During the meeting, the heads of the foreign affairs ministries exchanged views on the results of the SCO’s activities over 20 years and discussed tasks for the further development of cooperation within the Organization. They also exchanged views on topical international and regional issues.
It was stated at the meeting that the SCO, relying on the ‘Shanghai spirit’, for two decades has established itself as an authoritative interstate organization of a new type and an influential participant in the system of international relations. The ministers agreed that joint work on the progressive advancement of all issues on the multifaceted agenda of the SCO contributes to strengthening the development of the Organization and increasing its international authority.
During the meeting, it was noted that in accordance with the Plan of the main events of the SCO, over 50 events have been held by various mechanisms of SCO interaction, including 7 events at the ministerial level. In this context, the Ministers expressed their readiness to closely cooperate so that by September about 30 other events of the SCO bodies, including 12 at the level of heads of ministries and departments, are held at a high substantive level.
The heads of delegations noted that in preparation for the Dushanbe meeting of the Council of Heads of State, it is extremely important to follow all anti-epidemic requirements. The Tajik side informed that according to the decision of the Organizing Committee, all persons, without exception, involved in the preparatory work for the summit, have been or are being vaccinated without fail.
During the meeting, the Ministers stated that sustainable development in the SCO space is impossible without ensuring an adequate level of security. A Ministerial Council decision was signed to submit to the Dushanbe summit an updated Program of Cooperation between the SCO member states in the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism for 2022-2024.
The SCO Council of Foreign Ministers paid special attention to the situation in Afghanistan. Profound concern was stated at the prospect of a deterioration of the situation in that country as a result of the withdrawal of the coalition forces.
The heads of delegations discussed issues of further deepening cooperation in the economic sphere, and the Ministers adopted as a basis the Plan of Joint Measures to overcome the negative socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The cultural and humanitarian direction was in the center of attention of the ministers. The Regulation on the SCO Anthem, initiated by Tajikistan, was agreed for the first time in the history of the Organization.
During the meeting, issues of strengthening the positioning of the SCO in the international arena were discussed. The strengthening authority of the SCO on the external track was noted and issues of cooperation between the Organization and the UN and its specialized agencies were considered. The ministers welcomed the adoption of the resolution ‘Cooperation between the UN and the SCO’ during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.
The members of the Council exchanged views on expanding the composition of the SCO Dialogue Partner institution. Ministerial Council decisions were signed on granting this status to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which will be submitted for approval by the Council of Heads of State.
At the end of the meeting, the foreign ministers expressed confidence that its results would make a worthy contribution to the further strengthening of good-neighborliness, friendship, cohesion, mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation between the SCO member states.
Excerpts from the Joint statement by CFM on Afghanistan
A joint statement by Foreign Ministers of SCO Member States on the results of the meeting in the format of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group stated that as friendly neighbors and important partners of Afghanistan, the SCO Member States are interested in making the country peaceful, stable and prosperous, and reaffirmed their respect for the “traditions and culture of all peoples inhabiting Afghanistan.’
The ministers also reaffirmed their respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in accordance with generally recognized principles and norms of international law, especially the UN Charter. They further expressed their intend to assist Afghanistan in becoming a country free of terrorism, war and drugs.
“We condemn the ongoing violence and terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, whose victims are civilians and representatives of State authorities, and call for their early cessation. We note that the activity of international terrorist organizations remains a key factor of instability in that country. We are deeply concerned by the growing tension in Afghanistan’s Northern Provinces caused by the increased concentration of various terrorist, separatist and extremist groups. We consider it important to step up joint efforts by SCO Member States to counter terrorism, separatism and extremism,” stated the CFM communique.
The SCO Member States confirmed their readiness to further develop cooperation with Afghanistan in combating security challenges and threats in the region, above all terrorism and drug-related crime in all their forms and manifestations, and to jointly confront “double standards” in addressing these tasks.
The ministers called for the speedy resolution of the situation in Afghanistan, and stressed the need for the Government and people of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to step up their efforts to restore peace, develop the country’s economy and confront terrorism, extremism and drug-related crime. They also reaffirmed the position of SCO Member States that there is no alternative to settling the conflict in Afghanistan through political dialogue and an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.
The ministers urged increased cooperation of all interested states and international organizations under the central coordinating role of the UN for the stabilization and development of this country. They also welcomed the international community’s diplomatic support for the peace process in Afghanistan, including through the inter-Afghan peace talks in Doha, the expanded Troika, the Moscow consultation format and the Tashkent Process.
“Respecting the Afghan people’s autonomous choice of their own path to development, we are convinced that the intra-Afghan negotiation process must take into account the interests of all ethnic groups represented in the country.
We attach great importance to joint work within the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group. We consider it necessary to consistently implement the Roadmap for further actions of the SCO Contact Group adopted on 14 June 2019 in Bishkek, in order to strengthen stability in the region and develop relations between the SCO Member States and Afghanistan.
“We confirm the readiness of our countries to further deepen cooperation with Afghanistan in the fields of politics, security, economy and humanitarian interaction, including through the fullest realization of the potential of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s participation in the status of an Observer State in the SCO,” the statement noted in its conclusion.