Syria Applies For Observer Status At The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

The flag of Syrian Arab Republic. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

Syria has filed an application for an observer status at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russian Presidential Envoy for SCO Affairs and Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Department for Asian and Pacific Cooperation Bakhtier Khakimov said on Friday, TASS reports.

“The issue of the Organization’s expansion is a topic we are currently working on,” the Russian diplomat said.

“As of today, we have applications for the status of a full-fledged member from Pakistan, Iran and India. Besides, a number of countries are requesting to grant them an observer status, particularly, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bangladesh and Nepal. Recently, we have received a request from Syria,” he said.

On Tuesday the Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov told the SCO Press Club that the accession process of India, Pakistan, and Iran to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) can start this year.

“Russia welcomed the expansion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The main candidates are our partners from India, Pakistan and Iran,” the ambassador said.

China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan established the SCO in 2001.