Shanghai Cooperation Organization talks boosting cooperation

By Meiramgul Kussainova

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (AA) - Defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states met Friday in Kazakhstan's capital Astana to discuss steps to enhance cooperation.

The defense chiefs also held talks on issues of international and regional security.

A statement by Kazakhstan's defense ministry said that the defense ministers of Kazakhstan, India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan attended the meeting.

The group’s secretary general and the defense minister of observer country Belarus were also present at the meeting.

The meeting underlined that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is not a military bloc and that military cooperation among the member states of the organization is not directed against other countries.

- Members to continue counter-terrorism drills

The meeting focused on strengthening the organization's confidence-building measures in the military sphere and coordinating efforts against threats to regional security.

In this context, the member states agreed to continue Peace Mission joint anti-terrorism drills.

Kazakhstan's Defense Minister Ruslan Jaqsylyqov said the meeting was held as part of his country's SCO Chairmanship-in-Office.

Jaqsylyqov said Kazakhstan proposed to adopt an agreement on confidence-building measures within the framework of the SCO, which would provide for voluntary visits of the member states to each other's military units, exchange information on military exercises, heads of units and institutional structures.

Following the meeting, the SCO defense ministers signed a number of cooperation documents and a joint statement.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel from Istanbul