Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 12
By Elena Kosolapova - Trend:
Resolution of the current border problems between the member-countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is one of the priorities of the organization, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said at the SCO summit in Dushanbe.
He drew attention to the critical importance of compliance with the provisions of the basic documents of the SCO such as Shanghai and Moscow agreements envisaging confidence-building measures and the reduction of armed forces in the border areas.
Nazarbayev also noted that food security is an important area of economic cooperation between the SCO member states. He recalled that, according to experts, the world population will reach 9 billion people by 2050, and food production in the world will be reduced due to weather anomalies in the next 10 years.
Kazakh president also stressed that water shortage problem threats the stability and security in the region. In this regard, he noted that creation of the Water Committee, proposed by Kazakhstan, could become a practical mechanism for cooperation in addressing this issue.
Nazarbayev also touched upon the situation in Ukraine and urged the parties of the conflict to comply with the provisions of the Minsk Protocol signed Sept. 5.
"We all are greatly concerned over the situation in Ukraine. Impact of the crisis has long gone beyond the country. The situation in eastern Ukraine requires immediate action. A political dialogue and consensus is the only long-term solution to the problem. We hope that good will and positive position of the parties will ensure taking of specific steps within the peace protocol of the contact group from Sept. 5," Nazarbayev said.
Kiev authorities and self-proclaimed authorities of Ukranian Donbass region agreed on a cease-fire Sept.5 within the framework of the trilateral meeting of the contact group (Russia - Ukraine - OSCE) on the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis in Minsk.
The armistice envisages cessation of all hostilities and the exchange of "all for all" prisoners.
SCO summit kicked of in Dushanbe on Sept. 12. 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.
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