Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 12
By Elena Kosolapova - Trend:
The leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization have approved a new procedure for joining the organization, RIA Novosti reported.
Memorandum on the obligations of a State wishing to join the SCO was signed after the meeting of the Council of the Heads of the Member States of the SCO in Dushanbe Sept. 12.
New admission rules will allow including India and Pakistan into the SCO at the next summit in 2015. India and Pakistan have already applied for full membership in the organization.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at an enlarged meeting of the SCO, said that Russia, assuming chairmanship in the organization, expects that the SCO will enlarge next year.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization includes Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Observer states are Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia, and Pakistan. Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka have a status of partners in dialogue.
Edited by C.N.