Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko: Belarus views the SCO as a strategic perspective

MINSK, 3 July (BelTA) – Belarus views the Shanghai Cooperation Organization not just as an international organization, but as a strategic perspective, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in an interview with the international news agency Kazinform in the run-up to the SCO summit in Astana, BelTA has learned.

The head of state was asked what opportunities and benefits Belarus might get from full membership in the SCO.

“I spoke about the enormous potential of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization from the very first days of its founding. We immediately became interested in its initiatives and began to participate in its projects even before it became so influential. We joined it as a partner state, and were granted an observer status in 2015. Thus, we have been working our way up to full membership. Many Belarusian proposals put forward at the organization's platform over these years have been upheld,” the Belarusian leader noted.

Aleksandr Lukashenko believes that the SCO member states are drivers of global economic growth and centers of attraction for investment and innovation.

“The SCO is not just an international organization for Belarus. It is a strategic perspective. I mean, first of all, cooperation in trade, economy and investment, as well as the development of infrastructure in transport, logistics, ICT and other sectors,” the president emphasized.

According to him, in its new capacity the country will strive to align its initiatives with existing solutions as much as possible. Some of these initiatives will be presented at the SCO summit due in Kazakhstan's capital.

Belarus is very interested in cooperation with the countries of the growing SCO family in the field of security, the fight against organized crime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.

“We fully share the priorities set out in the organization's main document - the SCO Charter, as well as in the Samarkand Declaration and the New Delhi Declaration of the Heads of State Council,” the president said.

He noted that a project to set up the SCO Development Fund is in the works today. It will promote the idea of ​​​​creating a free trade and economic zone of the organization.

Aleksandr Lukashenko went on saying that it is very important to demonstrate that this organization is not only about security and economy. After all, this is also a unique platform for mutual enrichment of cultures, human contacts, direct communication between youth organizations, and closer interaction in sports, tourism, science, and education. With this in mind, Belarus will hold the Day of National Cultures of the SCO Countries during the international art festival Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk that will be running on 9-15 July.

“We believe that the idea of ​​“integration of integrations” holds a lot of promise. For this purpose, we will make the most of our experience in multilateral diplomacy and peacekeeping,” the Belarusian leader noted. “Yet, the most important thing is to show everyone that there are alternative international platforms, other centers of power where there is no superiority or domination of one over another, where every voice is heard and everyone's interests are respected,” the president noted.

Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed gratitude for the support, appreciation and recognition by the member states of Belarus’ contribution to the organization. “We understand all the responsibility and are committed to active and productive work in the new status,” he assured. 

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