Special edition
Astana Summit Brings New Horizons for SCO
A summit of the six leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) nations taking place in Kazakhstan’s capital city of Astana on July 5 opened a new stage in the history of the SCO defined by growing cooperation in the fight against terrorism and in the economic sphere. A landmark event at the meeting was the acceptance of India, Iran and Pakistan as SCO observers. Mongolia became an SCO observer last year.
The SCO summit which brought together Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan marked the 10th anniversary meeting since the appearance of the “Shanghai group” in 1996. Its original goal was to strengthen security along the borders of its member states. The success in reaching this goal led to the transformation of the group into a fully fledged international organization in 2001. At that time the SCO got its current name and accepted Uzbekistan as its sixth member. Its mandate was extended to include the strengthening of cooperation in the fight against terrorism and expand cooperation in the economic sphere, as well as in the spheres of culture, education and tourism.
Speaking at the summit, President Nursultan
Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan said “during the
four years of SCO’s existence we managed
to turn it into an active organization with
permanent institutions. We are proud to note
that from the ‘Shanghai Five’ which dealt with
complicated issues of military-to-military
cooperation across borders, the SCO has
turned into a respected organization which
has a two-pronged task ahead of it: to
counter the international terrorism and to
develop trade and economic and investment
cooperation. The SCO is created not just to
hold back destructive forces, but also to bring
peoples of our countries closer for the benefit
of their further development.”
The documents approved at the summit, including the Declaration of Heads of State – Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Concept of Cooperation of the SCO members in fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism, have demonstrated the seriousness of their intentions.
The Declaration stated “the heads of state believe the joining of efforts of the member countries is needed to effectively counter new challenges and threats to international and regional security and stability.” Such combined efforts should be comprehensive and promote the effective protection of territories, populations, key facilities of life support and infrastructure of member states from the harmful impact of new challenges and threats. It also must create the conditions for the sustainable development and rooting out of poverty in SCO member nations.
The SCO approved approaches including the development of close cooperation among foreign political and trade agencies, law enforcement, special services and defense ministries. The members will also work out mechanisms and measures for joint SCO reaction to situations threatening their peace and security. The group will also jointly plan and conduct anti-terrorist operations and seek to harmonize national legislation in security areas.
The leaders noted “the SCO member states will thwart efforts to prepare and conduct acts of terrorism in their territories, including those directed at foreign nations.”
The heads of state also noted the need to strengthen the fight against illegal drug trafficking. The Declaration says “the SCO is ready to actively participate in international efforts to create anti-narcotic rings around Afghanistan, to develop and implement special programs to assistance Afghanistan in stabilizing its social, economic and humanitarian situations.”
“We support and will support the international coalition carrying out an anti-terrorism campaign in Afghanistan. We have taken note of the positive dynamics and the stabilization of the political situation in Afghanistan,” the Organization said in the Declaration. “A number of SCO member countries offered their land based infrastructure for temporary location of military contingents of coalition members, as well as their territory and airspace for military transit in the interests of anti-terrorist coalition.”
“As the active military phase in the anti-terror operation in Afghanistan is nearing completion, the SCO members consider it necessary that relevant members of the anti-terrorist coalition determine on a deadline for the temporary use of the said infrastructure and for their military contingents’ presence in SCO member countries,” it said.
The Concept approved at the summit says the SCO members want to “develop unified policies in fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism and to coordinate these activities.” The SCO members have spoken in favor of creating a single register of fugitives sought for their involvement in terrorism, or who are suspected of carrying out such crimes. The document notes the need “to prevent access of terrorists, separatists and extremists to weapons of mass destruction, means of their delivery, radioactive, toxic and other dangerous substances, materials and technologies of their production.” The SCO members intend to counter any forms of financing for terrorism, separatism and extremism. They will also work to prevent the use of local and global computer networks for terrorist purposes.
The Concept has defined major forms of
cooperation including conducting coordinated
investigations, joint anti-terrorist operations
and exercises, exchange of criminal
information, personnel training, and the
sharing of expertise.
President Vladimir Putin of Russia said after
the summit “the SCO has gained international
respect as a serious regional organization,
and that is the main political result.”
President Hu Jintao of China noted “we are
moving toward a new stage of cooperation.
I am happy with today’s session. We remain
committed to the ‘Shanghai spirit’ based on
mutual respect, mutual benefit, equality,
appreciation for the diversity of culture and
aspirations for joint development.” He noted “the main goal now is to convert the potential for cooperation into real successes and bring concrete benefits for our peoples.”
China assumed the chairmanship of the SCO after Astana and will host the 2006 summit.
John Ordway, U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan, said at a July 6 news conference, “the emphasis in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the common struggle with terrorism is one that unites us.”
Astana became a center for important international political and economic decisions for the Eurasian region during the summit period.
Positive trends in the economic development of SCO member nations in recent years create conditions for greater trade, investment and technology cooperation. President Nazarbayev called at the summit for the expedited creation of the SCO Development Fund and the Business Council which “are meant to become additional sources of prosperity for our countries.”
On the eve of the summit, President Hu paid
a state visit to Kazakhstan. A number of
agreements were reached during that visit,
including a Declaration of Strategic
Partnership, agreements to complete the
construction of the Atasu-Alashankou oil
pipeline before 2006 and to expedite the joint
study of the potential construction of a
Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline. A
memorandum on the joint study of the
construction of the Trans-Kazakhstan
international gauge rail road was also signed.
On July 6, a number of bilateral agreements
in the energy sphere were signed with Russia
following a meeting with President Putin.
These include a production sharing agreement
for the Kurmangazy offshore field in the
Caspian which provides for investment of
U.S. $23 billion by both parties.
In addition to negotiations with SCO members, the President of Kazakhstan held meetings with First Vice President of Iran, Mohammed Resa Aref, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz of Pakistan and Foreign Minister Natwar Singh of India.
At a meeting with Mr. Aziz, the parties discussed the possibility of joining efforts by the two predominantly Muslim states to help modernize the Islamic world. “I have a great sympathy for the proposal of President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan to rebuild the Islamic world,” noted President Nazarbayev. “The Muslim nations with advanced economies, such as Pakistan and Kazakhstan, could join their efforts to counter conservatism in the Islamic world. We can prove to all that the Islamic world can adapt to globalization.”
President Nazarbayev congratulated Pakistan on becoming an SCO observer and said “the day when Pakistan becomes a fully fledged member is not far off.” He also noted that at an earlier meeting Foreign Minister Natwar Singh of India said India and Pakistan were improving their relations.
With the recent acceptance of three large Asian nations, the summit in Astana hosted ten countries with half of the world’s population and some of the world’s largest and most dynamic economies.
In Astana, the leaders demonstrated serious intentions of the largest countries of Eurasia to join efforts in fighting terrorism, ensuring stability and the economic growth. The results of the summit marked turning the Shanghai Cooperation Organization into a major and respected international organization. The events of early July in Kazakhstan’s capital city of Astana will have major bearing on strengthening security, stability and development of the region and the world at large, both today and tomorrow.
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News Bulletin of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the USA and Canada
(Compiled from own sources and agency reports)
Contact person: Roman Vassilenko
1401 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20036
Tel.: 202 232 5488, ext. 104, Fax: 202 232 5845
