Maintaining International Peace and Security – the SCO Perspective

By Mr.Vladimir Norov, the SCO Secretary General

Holding such representative forum, with the participation of prominent political figures and leading experts on international security issues is extremely important and relevant in the current complex, turbulent international situation.In today’s world, factors of instability are increasing,there is a danger of a new round of arms race and conflicts in several regions are escalating, there are growing threats from international terrorist and extremist organizations to peace and stability in the vast Eurasian space continues, and a tendency to merge terrorist groups with transnational criminal associations.New methods of financing the activities of terrorist organizations through the drug business, illicit arms trafficking and corruption are emerging.The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)countries face the danger of various insurgents returning from the “hot spots” of the Middle East who are ready to continue terrorist and extremist activities against the SCO Member States.Under these conditions, the SCO’s role in coordinating the development of collective and effective approaches of the world community in countering regional and global challenges is growing.

The SCO Member States reaffirm their support for the efforts of the United Nations as a universal multilateral organisation and advocate strengthening of the key role of the UN Security Council, which, in accordance with the UN Charter, is entrusted with the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.The SCO member states are convinced that the unilateral and unlimited buildup by individual countries or groups of states of ballistic missile defense is detrimental to international security and destabilizes the situation in the world.They consider inadmissible attempts to ensure their own security at the expense of the security of other states.

The SCO, as an influential and responsible participant in the modern system of international relations, will enhance its participation in efforts to ensure peace and security, consistently advocating the resolution of international and regional conflicts by exclusively peaceful political and diplomatic means, based on the principles of equality, respect for sovereignty,territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, the non-use of force or the threat of force.In order to implement the Program of Cooperation in Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, the SCO Member States are actively working to curb crimes of terrorist and religious extremist nature,neutralize clandestine terrorist cells.

Joint military antiterrorist exercises“Peaceful Mission” are regularly held with the participation of all SCO Member States.The Member States call on the international community to promote global cooperation in combating terrorism with the central role of the UN by fully implementing corresponding UN Security Council resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in compliance with the UN Charter and the principles of international law without politicisation and double standards and with respect for the sovereignty and independence of all countries, as well as to work towards a consensus on adopting the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

An important condition for ensuring security in the SCO area and in the world as a whole is the stabilization of Afghanistan.Member States highly appreciated the results of the third meeting of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group(Bishkek, April 18-19, 2019)and the signing of the roadmap with the Afghan side on the further actions of the Contact Group at the SCO Summit on 14 June in Bishkek.The SCO Member States emphasize the absence of an alternative to resolving the conflict in Afghanistan through political dialogue and implementing an inclusive peace process by the Afghans and under the leadership of the Afghans themselves, call for increased cooperation of all interested states and international organizations with the central coordinating role of the UN in order to stabilize and develop this country.

Special attention is being paid by the SCO Member States to cyber security.Countering information attacks, fighting against the use of internet for propaganda of terrorism,separatism and extremism, as well as preventing the undermining of political, economic and public security is an important task in the SCO region.We consider it necessary to develop universal rules, principles and norms for the responsible behavior of states in the information space, while providing in this area a number of measures to ensure information security in the SCO space

Over the past 18 years, the SCO has stood to the test of new developments in international security, conducted fruitful practical cooperation,and received universal recognition from the world community.Especially after the membership of India and Pakistan, the international influence and cumulative powers of the SCO have increased, while the inter-state relations of all countries of the Organization show exemplary format.The key to this development of the SCO is, of course, the guiding rule of the “Shanghai Spirit”,characterized by “mutual trust, mutual benefit,equality, consultation, respect for the diversity of civilizations, the pursuit for common development”.

Developing common security, the SCO will continue to adhere to the principles of non-alignment with the blocs, the absence of counteraction and non-targeting to third parties.I am confident that the further development of cooperation within the SCO will increase the level of mutual trust, and will also allow the Organization to significantly expand the possibilities to counter the modern challenges and threats to security in the SCO space.