SCO finds its position: Russian official

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has more and more found its position in international affairs and all member states are optimistic about its future, a senior Russian official says.

Leonid Moiseev, special representative for President Dmitry Medvedev on SCO affairs, made the comments in an interview with Xinhua ahead of the annual SCO summit to be held in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent on June 9-11.

"All member states have optimistic forecasts, ... we understand that SCO will never be a military bloc, nor a pure economic union," Moiseev said.

Moiseev hailed the achievements the SCO reached in the regional security issues, saying the influence of the organization has been more and more recognized by the international community.

"Now SCO has been invited to every major international event devoted to the issues of Afghanistan, and we are ready to work with each side on the regional security issues," he said.

Refering to the Regional Anti-Terrorists Organization (RATS), Moiseev said it is the first SCO body working on the permanent basis, aimed at fighting terrorism and tackling other new challenges and threats.

"All member states should join hands in tackling the terrorism and drug trafficking. Drug trafficking has been a top topic for the organization in recent months," Moiseev said.
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