Tashkent Declaration of SCO Heads of State Council Meeting
| 2010-6-11 |
The 10th Meeting of the Council of the Heads of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was held on 10-11 June 2010 in Tashkent. Following an exchange of views on important regional and international issues, the participants make the following statement:
1. Profound changes and fundamental transformations take place in today's dynamically developing world. In conditions of asserting multipolarity the interdependence of states increases and the processes of globalization that have a significant impact on the global economy and international relations are being activated.
Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (hereinafter - the SCO or the Organisation) are united in their assessment of changes happening in the world, which involve not only new challenges and threats, but also provide opportunities for progress towards a more just political and economic world order based on the rule of international law, equal and mutually beneficial cooperation of all countries in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
Member States intend to strictly follow the spirit of the SCO Charter and the provisions of the Treaty on Long-term Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation and implement the basic purposes and principles of the Organisation.
2. Over the years since its founding, the SCO has become an important factor for regional and international security architecture and cooperation, has proved to be an effective and transparent multilateral association. The organisation will continue to adhere to the line, which excludes block, ideological and confrontational approaches to solving actual problems of international and regional development.
Member States are committed to continuing their close and full cooperation within the SCO to strengthen its role as a reliable guarantor of peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
3. In the light of developments in the Kyrgyz Republic, Member States reaffirm the principled position of mutual support of state sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. They oppose the interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, as well as actions that could cause tensions in the region, and support the resolution of any disagreements exclusively by political and diplomatic means, through dialogue and negotiation. The SCO Member States, stressing the importance of speedy stabilization of political situation in Kyrgyzstan for the entire region, expressed their willingness to provide the Kyrgyz Republic with necessary support and assistance in solving this problem.
4. Member States confirm that the central place in the system of international relations belongs to the United Nations Organisation, which is a unique and, in many respects, uncontested mechanism of multilateral cooperation.
Member States intend to further cooperate on the issues of reforming the United Nations Organisation and its Security Council. Since the reform affects the interests of all Member States of the UN, it is expedient to continue open and comprehensive consultations with the view of the development of the complex project, which would embody in itself by far the widest possible consent.
5. At the present stage new challenges and security threats advance to the forefront of international agenda, which stipulates the necessity to strengthen the joint struggle against terrorism in all its manifestations and the importance of resolving issues of international and regional security. Member States will concentrate efforts on the realization of the United Nations’ Global Counterterrorist Strategy, the respective resolutions of the UN Security Council and the regulations of the SCO’s Convention against terrorism, as well as on the counteraction to the ideology of terrorism and extremism through the development of intercultural dialogue.
6. Member States emphasize that in the centre of SCO’s attention there should be the issues of strengthening of coordination of the joint activity connected with an exit from world financial and economic crisis and decrease of its negative consequences. Consecutive implementation of national economies’ modernization aims, their transfer onto innovative rails, equal involvement of the interested countries into processes of making key international decisions, strengthening in these purposes of interaction at global and regional levels would ensure the exit from the crisis.
SCO will undertake efforts to create favorable conditions for trading and investment activity, realisation of joint regional and inter-regional projects on development of transport and communication infrastructure with a view of increase of economic competitiveness of Member States.
7. In modern world, establishing the system of international security based on respect of international law and implementation by States of their obligations is obtaining the determinative impotence. Creation of such a system requires coherent and effective measures in the field of disarmament and nonproliferation.
Member States call for strict observance of the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as on Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy, and consider the creation of the Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons in Central Asia as an important element in ensuring regional peace and security, that can significantly contribute to strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime, to increasing the level of regional and international security. Signing the corresponding Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons in Central Asia by Nuclear Powers will be an effective step in this direction.
Member States welcome the signing in Prague on 8 April 2010 of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on the Measures of Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms.
Member States emphasize that the uncontrolled deployment of a global missile defense, as well as the danger of allocation of weapons in outer space, can become sources of destabilization of international situation and lead to proliferation and increase of missile weapons in different parts of the world.
8. A continuing escalation of confrontation in Afghanistan, terrorism, drug trafficking and transnational organized crime rooted from this country remain a big source of threats in the region. Achieving peace and stability in the IRA is a crucial factor in ensuring security that promotes sustainable social and economic development of the region.
Member States reaffirm the central role of the UN in coordinating international efforts in resolving the situation in Afghanistan. They believe that it is not possible to resolve the Afghan problem by only military means and support the continuation of the negotiation process under the UN auspices with participation of Afghans themselves.
The SCO supports the establishment of the IRA as a peaceful and stable country, and proceeds from the importance of full respect to the rich historical and ethno-demographical roots of the multiethnic nation of Afghanistan and its traditional and religious values.
The SCO supports the efforts of the Member States participating in implementation of the projects on economic reconstruction of the IRA, in collaboration with international institutions and other interested parties.
The SCO Member States call upon the international community to intensify the efforts on countering the drug threat from Afghanistan in the whole chain of production and distribution of drugs. In this context, the Summit Participants express their readiness to cooperate with other international and regional structures, call upon the International Security Assistance Force to cooperate in sphere of anti-drug efforts with the SCO Member States.
9. The SCO Member States note that the information security is closely linked with ensuring the state sovereignty, national security, social and economic stability and interests of citizens. All countries have the right, in accordance with their internal realities and on the legal basis, to operate the Internet, while enhancing cooperation in the spirit of equality and mutual respect.
Information technologies should be used for peace, development, security and prosperity. Member States will continue to implement the documents signed within the framework of the SCO on cooperation in this field and take active efforts to ensure international information security.
10. Member-states noted the increasing role of the SCO in the emerging Asia-Pacific partnership network of multilateral associations in the context of strengthening peace, stability and sustainable development in the course of "Tashkent Initiative" of 2004.
Member states highly appraised the signing on 5 April 2010 in Tashkent of the Joint Declaration on Cooperation Between the SCO Secretariat and the UN, stipulating the main principles and directions of cooperation between two organisations.
11. An adoption by Heads of States of the Rules of Procedure and the Statute on the Order of Admission of New Members to the SCO would be an important step in ensuring the further development of the SCO, enhancing the authority of the Organisation, improving the legal framework of activity of the SCO bodies.
Member States of the Organisation support the further strengthening of cooperation with observer countries and partners for dialogue of the SCO, strengthening practical cooperation aimed at involving their capacity, resources and markets into the sphere of joint activities.
12. Member States emphasize that the lessons of the Second World War, the 65 years since the end of which is widely celebrated in the SCO member states and around the world, confirm the importance in current conditions as well of the manifest by all states and political leaders the determination to prevent further tragedies causing large-scale human casualties and together, with joint efforts to effectively counter challenges and threats to humanity. The SCO Member States, whose nations have made major contribution to the achievement of Victory and suffered heavy losses during the World War II, strongly condemn the attempts to revive the ideology of fascism, spread of xenophobia and intolerance, extremism and terrorism for the sake of improper political purposes.
The SCO will, as before, preserving the commitment to peace, common development and equal cooperation, based on mutual respect and tolerance, expand cooperation and dialogue with the international community, exert all efforts to strengthen security and stability and prosperity in the region and the world as a whole in the name harmony and prosperity.
The Heads of State reaffirmed their intention to hold next year commemorative events to mark the tenth anniversary of the SCO.
Tashkent, June 11, 2010
|