Events

1 Nov 2023

Belarus set to complete SCO accession process as fast as possible

MINSK, 1 November (BelTA) - Belarus is set to carry out the process of joining the SCO as quickly as possible, Chairman of the Standing Commission on International Affairs of the House of Representatives Andrei Savinykh told the media, BelTA has learned.

The bill “On ratification of the Memorandum of Commitments of the Republic of Belarus obtain the status of a member state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization” was adopted at the meeting of the tenth session of the House of Representatives of the seventh convocation. It provides for Belarus’ consent to ratify the memorandum, which is defined by the SCO member states as a prerequisite for Belarus' accession to the organization. The memorandum of Belarus’ commitments to obtain the status of a member state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was signed in New Delhi on 4 July 2023.

“We have been working in this organization for quite a long time - since 2010: first as a dialogue partner and then as an observer. We see how this organization is dynamically developing. Security issues and political dialogue are expanding in the direction of specific projects, social and economic development of the region,” Andrei Savinykh said. “As a result, the decision was made for Belarus to join this organization for several reasons. First, it is indeed an institution that ensures stabilization and security in the Greater Eurasia region. Secondly, new prospects for social and economic development and investment cooperation are opening up.”

Belarus plans to carry out the process of joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization within the shortest possible time, the MP said. “Such a quick algorithm of the country’s accession is being implemented for the first time,” he said. “We have already passed a bill on the ratification of 22 intergovernmental agreements. In total, plans are in place to ratify up to 50 agreements that are already in force within the framework of this organization. All of them have been analyzed. Serious work has been done to take into account the interests of Belarus. They correspond to the prospects of the country’s political, social and economic development.”

“Belarus never takes the place of a passive member in any organization,” Andrei Savinykh said. “Our accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will certainly give a new impetus to the organization's development. We are joining it with our ideas and proposals. We have quite a serious baggage of ideas that we could bring to this organization and ensure its further development. We are deeply interested in the systematic development of this organization, as it is a factor of stabilization on our mainland.”