The President of Kyrgyzstan, speaking at an online meeting of the Council of Heads of State — members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), noted the importance of establishing a center to combat international organized crime in Bishkek.
Sadyr Japarov stressed that over the years of its activity, the SCO has achieved significant success and is becoming an increasingly influential sub-regional structure, uniting more than a quarter of the world economy and about a half of the world’s population.
«The SCO has a constructive cooperation agenda that is becoming attractive to many countries in different regions of the world. The Kyrgyz Republic supports efforts to improve the activities of the SCO. I believe that its activities should be focused on specific practical results, including with an emphasis on the development of infrastructure, increasing the material and technical potential and introduction of innovative technologies. In the process of improving the work of the organization, it is necessary to take into account the opinions and proposals of all parties,» he said.
The head of state asked the participants to pay attention to the proposals of Kyrgyzstan on the establishment of a SCO center for combating international organized crime in Bishkek. He recalled that consultations of the SCO countries on this issue were held in Cholpon-Ata on June 14, where the Kyrgyz side presented a draft regulation and structure of the center.
Sadyr Japarov noted that the implementation of this initiative would give a new impetus to building up cooperation on issues related to ensuring regional security, combating terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and cross-border organized crime.
Speaking about security issues, he urged not to reduce attention to the Afghan problem.
«For Kyrgyzstan, as well as for our friends, peace and stability in Afghanistan are one of the priority conditions for ensuring regional security. The Kyrgyz Republic is ready to develop good neighborly relations and is interested in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. At the same time, noting its commitment to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan respects the right of the Afghan people to determine the future of their country based on their historical experience, culture, traditions and national identity,» the President concluded.
