Some consensus has been reached in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) regarding Belarus’ accession to it as a full member. The Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Lavrov said following a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the SCO states, TASS reports.
«As for Belarus, I emphasize, there is a consensus on starting its accession to the SCO as a full member,» the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry said, answering a question about the prospects of Minsk in obtaining the status of a full member of the SCO.
Sergei Lavrov recalled that last year Iran received «official candidate status» in the SCO and the process of its full accession has already begun. «Relevant documents will be additionally adopted at the SCO summit in Samarkand. There are still a number of candidates for observer status, for the status of dialogue partners. A number of Arab countries show such interest, Armenia, Azerbaijan, a number of Asian countries. Consultations at the level of foreign policy departments will be continued prior to the summit. I am convinced that we will be able to report the relevant recommendations to the heads of state,» he said.
The next SCO summit will be held on September 15-16 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Belarus is an observer country at the SCO. The republic has applied for joining the organization.
