S.C.O. Thread:

I started this subject because of present (and future) interesting moment that is starting to unveil. There is real posibility about Turkey entering SCO. 

10.01.2013

Erdogan Serious about Turkey's Bid for Shanghai 5 Membership



25.01.2013

Erdoğan: Turkey considers Shanghai organization an alternative to EU



12.03.2013

France (and other EU members are having high temperature because of such possibility)

France to assist Turkey in opening EU chapter




Than on 07.06.2013 comes a breakthrough

SCO accepts Afghanistan as observer, Turkey dialogue partner

Strategic shift: Turkey joins the China, Russia led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation



And on 21.11.2013 another shock for the "west"

Turkish PM Erdoğan to Putin: Take us to Shanghai

How powerful words fell during that metting (even regarding Ukraine decision) is best described by this dialog:


Responding to a question over Ukraine’s recent decision to halt a trade pact with the European Union, Putin said the issue had no political dimension and that they would learn from Turkey’s EU experiences. 

“We will ask Turkey what we can do. Turkey has great experience in EU talks,” Putin said at a joint conference with Prime Minister [url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tag/Recep Tayyip Erdo%C4%9Fan]Recep Tayyip Erdoğan[/url] in St. Petersburg. Erdoğan replied: “You are right. Fifty years of experience is not easy. Allow us into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and save us from this trouble.”

It's not just the name Shanghai Co Operation that is China specific . Fact remains that SCO remains a China centric organization .

In other words , China created the SCO to spread Chinese influence in Central Asia .

Therefore , Putin came up with the CSTO which is a far more equitable organization .

So , if a country wants to develop better relations with China they can always join the SCO .

However, if it wants to be part of an organization that treats it as an equal partner it should join the CSTO .

Russia offers SCO to strike border deal against Afghan threats

DUSHANBE, July 31. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia proposed to the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) to conclude a framework agreement on border co-operation to remove after-effects of possibly worse situation in Afghanistan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers from the SCO states in the Tajik capital on Thursday.

“Today further joint efforts for effective response to current events in the world and region is on the agenda,” he said, adding that “This is primarily the situation in Afghanistan with due account of “the factor of 2014.”

“We welcomed presidential elections in that country, but their results are unclear yet,” the Russian foreign minister said, adding that “Risks of “collapse” persist in the situation after withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan and instability engulfing Central Asian region.”

“A framework agreement on border issues may become promising in the fight against penetration of terrorists and religious extremists in Central Asian countries. Drafting of this document for signing already at a summit in Dushanbe would meet our common interests,” he said.

Lavrov also proposed “to take additional measures to ensure security of our countries to use possibilities of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure as much as possible to turn it in a universal centre in the fight against new challenges and threats.


SCO draft development strategy until 2025

The foreign ministers of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) have approved the organisation’s draft development strategy until 2025, Tajikistani Foreign Minister Sirodjidin Aslov said on Thursday.

“At the meeting we approved the draft resolution of the Council of Heads of State “On the SCO Draft Development Strategy until 2025,” which will determine the guidelines for future interaction and improve our action efficiency,” he said.

“The current meeting’s peculiarity is that the work on the coordination and preparation of legal documents on the admission of new members is actually on the homestretch,” Aslov said. “The delegations’ heads have approved draft procedures for the granting of SCO member status and a new version of the model memorandum on the obligations of applicant states, seeking the SCO member state status.

China ready to host SCO anti-terror drill

(Source: Xinhua) 2014-07-31

　　BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to host a joint anti-terror drill among Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members in August, a Ministry of National Defense spokesman said on Thursday.

　　Geng Yansheng told a regular news briefing that preparations for the drill, Peace Mission-2014, are almost complete.

　　The exercise will be held from Aug. 24-29 at Zhurihe training base in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, in accordance with the 2014-2015 defense ministry cooperation plan among SCO members.

　　Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan will send armed forces by land and air in early August, Geng said.

　　The exercise will be the fifth multinational drill under the SCO framework and will aim at deterring the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, safeguarding regional peace and stability and improving the militaries' coordinated ability to fight terrorism, the ministry said earlier.

　　It does not target any other party, the ministry said.

　　Founded in Shanghai in 2001, the SCO groups China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are observers. Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka are dialogue partners.

SCO to admit new members

Draft documents on the procedure of the admission new members to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization have been adopted. This is one of the main outcomes of the meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia, China, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kirgizstan held in Dushanbe on Thursday.

The adoption of these documents at the next SCO summit will give the green light for admitting the four observer-states, India, Pakistan, Iran and Mongolia, to the six-member organization.

Documents will be submitted to the SCO summit for the adoption. The summit will be held in Dushanbe in September. At present, Tajikistan holds the SCO presidency.

The quartet has expressed their desire to join the SCO in the past few years. The four countries have taken part in economic and cultural projects of the organization as observer-states. The desire of India, Pakistan, Iran and Mongolia reflects the growing authority and influence of the SCO in the eyes of Asian countries, says expert at the Higher School of Economics Alexei Maslov.

“At present, the SCO has started to counterbalance NATO’s role in Asia. Consequently, these countries want to take part in the SCO in the capacity of safeguard of their interests. At present, the SCO is strengthening because the American policy towards Asia has been excessively tough and is aimed at suppressing their interests. The American policy contradicts the interests of Asian countries. In this sense, it’s quite natural that India, Pakistan, Iran and Mongolia expressed desire to join the SCO. There is another aspect that has to be taken into account. The growing role of China in the world shows that many countries are afraid of directly cooperating with it without outside backing. In this context, SCO enters in the capacity of guarantor that China will honour the interests of these countries in the framework of the existing SCO guidelines,” Maslov said.

The admission of India, Pakistan, Iran and Mongolia will pave the way for the SCO to hold itself out as the centre of power in global politics, says expert at the Institute of International Studies, Leonid Gusev.

“If these countries become the SCO permanent members, this means that the organization will turn into a powerful structure. If other countries join the SCO, then we can say about the appearance of an alternative powerful global organization because it will be seriously reckoned,” Gusev said.

By giving green light to the admission of the quartet, the SCO shows that it is organizationally developing and capable of upgrading itself and rejecting exhausted norms, says Alexei Maslov.

“It has long considered that the admission of new members to the SCO, which have serious problems between them, for example India and Pakistan, would be dangerous for its future. The reason here was that this might led to grow strain between members. However, there are special relations between China and Pakistan. For one, China lobbies the admission of Pakistan to the SCO. Meanwhile, Russia actively supports the SCO membership of India, Iran and Mongolia. At present, owing to the admission of the quartet, the SCO will be able to create a powerful organization in Asia and it will be a powerful economic, cultural and educational network,” Gusev said.

The foreign ministers adopted a draft strategy for the development of the SCO up to 2025. It was submitted by Russia. It has set the task of minimizing the negative influence of global and regional processes on the SCO territory. It is also aimed at upgrading its role and significance in solving global issues.
Read more: http://indian.ruvr.ru/2014_08_01/SCO--admit-new-members/

The biggest geopolitical shift (besides Russia-China alliance) in recent times

Modi leads India to the Silk Road

According to latest reports, Beijing has had a profound rethink.

At the SCO foreign ministers meeting last Thursday in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, a decision has been taken that the grouping will formally invite India, Pakistan, Iran and Mongolia as members at its next summit in September.

To be sure, Russia would be immensely pleased. A Moscow pundit promptly estimated that India's admission into the SCO will pave the way for the grouping to hold itself out as a 'centre of power in world politics.'

However, Modi's meetings on the sidelines of the BRICS summit with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin brought out his conviction that India's long-term interests are best served by forging closer strategic partnerships with these two world powers.

(now we wait for Turkey to switch side)

Viktor wrote:


(now we wait for Turkey to switch side)

this would be even more interesting because Turkey is a member of NATO

Viktor wrote:The biggest geopolitical shift (besides Russia-China alliance) in recent times

Modi leads India to the Silk Road

According to latest reports, Beijing has had a profound rethink.

At the SCO foreign ministers meeting last Thursday in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, a decision has been taken that the grouping will formally invite India, Pakistan, Iran and Mongolia as members at its next summit in September.

To be sure, Russia would be immensely pleased. A Moscow pundit promptly estimated that India's admission into the SCO will pave the way for the grouping to hold itself out as a 'centre of power in world politics.'

However, Modi's meetings on the sidelines of the BRICS summit with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin brought out his conviction that India's long-term interests are best served by forging closer strategic partnerships with these two world powers.

(now we wait for Turkey to switch side)

Modi had a crash on me. He is dedicated, he is wise and he is nationalist. What more can you expect from a leader?
Like I said the guy is for serious business!

Nearly 900 Russian Servicemen to Participate in Military Drills in China

KHABAROVSK, August 11 (RIA Novosti) – Nearly 900 Russian servicemen have left for China to participate in the international anti-terrorist exercise Peace Mission 2014 alongside member-states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Eastern Military District spokesman Alexander Gordeyev told journalists Monday.

“The solemn ceremony of departure of the Eastern Military District units to China was held in the city of Borzya, Zabaikalsky Territory. It is expected that the trains with equipment and personnel of the Russian contingent participating in the drills will cross the Russian-Chinese border on August 13. A total of 900 servicemen and about 100 units of weapons will be shipped via railway transport,” Godeyev said.

The official added that four Su-25 jets and eight Mi-8MT helicopters would fly to China in the coming days.

The Peace Mission 2014 exercise will be held from August 24 to 29 at the Zhurihe training base in the city of Hohhot, the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region. Military delegations from five SCO member states – Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan ¬– will participate in the exercises. In total, more than 7,000 personnel from SCO states will take part.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization to Hold Largest-Ever Military Drills in August

MOSCOW, August 22 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Defense Ministry will conduct two large-scale exercises before the end of 2014 within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in China, including the organization's largest ever in August, a source in the ministry told RIA Novosti on Friday.

“All of the events planned by the Defense Ministry for 2014 will be held according to plan. The largest interspecific drills for the Russian Armed Forces will be Vostok-2014 planned for mid-September. The scenario for these drills has not yet been exposed,” the source said.

The first of the large-scale training exercises, Peace Mission, will be held on August 24-29 at the Inner Mongolian Zhurihe Training Base in northern China. It is an anti-terrorist drill for the SCO, in which military forces from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and China will participate. The exercise will include more than 7,000 personnel, making it the largest SCO exercise so far.

The ministry said that it has planned 3,500 drills for 2014, including 29 international military exercises.

Earlier in August, it was reported that a total of four trains carrying some 1,000 Eastern Military District personnel from Russia had gathered at the location of the exercise in China’s Inner Mongolia region.

Zhurihe is China’s largest and most modern training base and the only training base where the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) can hold large-scale joint exercises.

On August 25, 2003, the PLA for the first time opened the Zhurihe Training Base to foreign militaries. The base covers an area of about 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles). Its primary function is to organize troop units at division, brigade and regiment levels to complete combined tactics drills and cooperate with armored forces and other branches of the PLA to carry out technical or tactical training.

We don't want big, we want biggest than NATO   

You want the biggest military "drill" in the world? Start by bombing Washington and you got it!

SCO Joint Declaration Urges Continuation of Ukraine Reconciliation Talks

DUSHANBE, September 12 (RIA Novosti) – The heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states said in a joint statement Friday that negotiations on Ukrainian reconciliation should continue until the crisis is completely resolved.

"The heads of state favor the soonest restoration of peace in Ukraine and continuation of negotiations in order to completely settle the crisis in the country," SCO leaders said in the statement.

The sides welcome the Minsk protocol signed on September 5 after consultations of the trilateral Contact Group on the Ukrainian crisis – Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe – aimed at "implementing the Ukrainian president's peace plan and the initiatives of the Russian president."

The participants of the Contact Group signed a 12-point protocol that entails a ceasefire as well as the adoption by Ukraine of a law on special status for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in addition to holding early elections.

The protocol was signed two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined a seven-point plan for the settlement of the crisis in Ukraine, calling on Kiev to withdraw its troops from the country's southeastern regions and the militia to cease its advance.

The plan also included proposals for an international monitoring force, the establishment of a humanitarian corridor, a ban on the use of combat aircraft over urban areas, an exchange of prisoners in an "all for all" formula and direct access for repair crews to destroyed infrastructure in the war-ravaged areas.

SCO is a Eurasian political, economic and military organization founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are observer members.

SCO Leaders Call On to Prevent Arms Race in Space

DUSHANBE, September 12 (RIA Novosti) – Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states said in a joint declaration Friday they opposed an arms race in space.

"The member states favor safe space activities and its peaceful use, and oppose an arms race in space and turning it into an area of armed hostilities," the declaration reads.

The leaders also called upon countries to start negotiations on an international treaty banning the deployment of weapons in space and other measures to boost transparency and trust.

SCO is a Eurasian political, economic and military organization founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are currently observer members.

The prevention of an arms race in outer space is a critical issue on the UN disarmament and arms control agenda.

In June, Russia and China jointly submitted to a UN-sponsored disarmament conference an updated draft treaty on banning the deployment of weapons in outer space. The draft supplemented, revised and refined some clauses of the draft Russia and China presented back in 2008. The United States opposed the measure. In his speech at a plenary session of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva earlier this week, Robert Wood, the US representative to the organization, said that the draft "remains fundamentally flawed."

Turkmen president names energy, transport as SCO cooperation priorities

DUSHANBE, September 12. /ITAR-TASS/. Turkmenistan sees bright prospects for cooperation with Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries and regards energy and transport as priority areas for joint work, Turkmenistani President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov said on Friday.

“One of the serious problems of modern times is the reliability of energy supplies, their stability and continuity,” Berdimuhammedov at a SCO summit in Dushanbe, which he attended as a guest of honour.

“A new energy infrastructure in Eurasia is an emerging reality. One way or another, Turkmenistan and SCO countries are engaged in its establishment and development,” he said.

As an example, he named the construction of the region’s largest Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China and the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan-China gas pipelines, and the successful operation of a second trunk gas pipeline between Turkmenistan and Iran.

Another example is the construction of a 1,000-km railroad from Kazakhstan to Iran. Work is underway to build a railroad from Turkmenistan to Tajikistan via Afghanistan.

Berdimuhammedov said the creation of regional and continental transport corridors “assumes special importance under these circumstances”.

George1 wrote:SCO Leaders Call On to Prevent Arms Race in Space

DUSHANBE, September 12 (RIA Novosti) – Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states said in a joint declaration Friday they opposed an arms race in space.

"The member states favor safe space activities and its peaceful use, and oppose an arms race in space and turning it into an area of armed hostilities," the declaration reads.

The leaders also called upon countries to start negotiations on an international treaty banning the deployment of weapons in space and other measures to boost transparency and trust.

SCO is a Eurasian political, economic and military organization founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are currently observer members.

The prevention of an arms race in outer space is a critical issue on the UN disarmament and arms control agenda.

In June, Russia and China jointly submitted to a UN-sponsored disarmament conference an updated draft treaty on banning the deployment of weapons in outer space. The draft supplemented, revised and refined some clauses of the draft Russia and China presented back in 2008. The United States opposed the measure. In his speech at a plenary session of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva earlier this week, Robert Wood, the US representative to the organization, said that the draft "remains fundamentally flawed."

It has already begun... 10 bucks says that Russia already has FOBS and......

I would call this one of the biggest geopolitical success stories of Russian Federation

India's membership in SCO initiated

India welcomes the expansion of the SCO and supports the position of Ukraine

India welcomes the decision of the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on the admission of new members and shares the position of the organization in Ukraine

Viktor wrote:I would call this one of the biggest geopolitical success stories of Russian Federation

India's membership in SCO initiated

India welcomes the expansion of the SCO and supports the position of Ukraine

India welcomes the decision of the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on the admission of new members and shares the position of the organization in Ukraine

That is huge! Never a bad thing to hear some good news....

Shanghai Cooperation Organization Says Afghanistan Requests Help in Fighting Terrorism

MOSCOW, October 23 (RIA Novosti) – Kabul has asked Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states to help Afghan special services in combating terrorism, the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO RATS) said Thursday.

The SCO RATS director Zhang Xinfeng and Afghan Ambassador to Uzbekistan Mohammad Sadiq Daudzai discussed the security situation in Afghanistan on October 17.

"The head of the Afghani Embassy conveyed the readiness of Afghanistan’s defense and security forces to repel terrorist threats emanating from the Taliban movement, which has a significant influence in the south and east of the country. Ambassador requested the SCO member states to assist the national security forces of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in fighting terrorism," SCO RATS said in a statement published on its website.

The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic and military alliance that was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is a permanent SCO organ that serves to promote cooperation against terrorism, separatism and extremism among its member states.

SCO Members to Share Data on Citizens Fighting in Middle East

Representative for the SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure said that Special services of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries and SCO observer nations will exchange data on citizens who take part in armed conflicts in the Middle East.

MOSCOW, November 20 (Sputnik) — Special services of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries and SCO observer nations will exchange data on citizens who take part in armed conflicts in the Middle East and Afghanistan, a representative for the SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS SCO) told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

"Having returned to the place of residence, people like these pose a threat to security and stability on the SCO area," the representative who wished to remain anonymous said. He added that regulations for effective information exchange are currently being elaborated.

The RATS SCO representative added that ways of effective information sharing between the SCO member countries were discussed earlier this week during a conference in Tashkent.

The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic and military alliance founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India, Iran and Pakistan, as well as Mongolia and Afghanistan have observer country status in the organization, while Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka are considered dialogue partners. RATS SCO is headquartered in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

Moscow supports Pakistan’s application for full-fledged membership in SCO

ISLAMABAD, December 15. /TASS/. Moscow supports Pakistan’s application for full-fledged membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Alexei Dedov said on Monday.

“Over more than a decade of its work, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has established itself as an authoritative organization, becoming a key player in the global and regional politics,” he said at a conference dedicated to Pakistan’s prospects to have a full-fledged membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. “Over the year of Russia’s presidency /in 2014-2015/,we will develop ties with partners within the SCO and create conditions of its further expansion.”

“Russia consistently supports Islamabad’s application to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a full-fledged member,” Dedov said. “We hope it will be approved after all SCO internal procedures are over.”

In the year of its presidency, the Russian ambassador stressed, Russia “will focus on launching large-scale multi-lateral economic projects, primarily in the areas of transport, energy, science and technology, peaceful use of space.” “At the same time, attention will be paid to expanding cultural and humanitarian ties. Thus, we plan to promote youth exchanges, tourism,” he said. “Our priorities include the development of the SCO Network University and establishing its division in Russia. We also think it important to encourage parliamentary, civil and trade union cooperation within the organization.”

To fulfill the above tasks, Russia has adopted a plan of its presidency that includes more than 100 joint projects in the political, trade-and-economic, cultural and humanitarian areas.

“I am confident that in close cooperation with the partners we will be able to give a fresh impetus to the process of the SCO’s further development and boosting its role on the international arena in the interests of ensuring global and regional peace and prosperity,” the Russian ambassador underscored.

Currently, members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization are Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Mongolia, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan enjoy the observer status. In September 2014, Pakistan and India officially applied for full-fledged membership in the organization. Iran also seeks such membership. Sri Lanka and Armenia have applied for an observer status. Belarus, Sri Lanka and Turkey have a status of a dialogue partner.

Pakistan, India to join SCO

Russia, China welcome India, Pakistan joining Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Epic geopolitical shifting !