Kyrgyzstan: SCO Moots New Global Security System

The presidents of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states have suggested setting up a new security system that will “reflect the balance of interests between all entities of international relations; give the right to every state to independently choose ways of development in accordance with its own historical experience and national peculiarities …”. In a declaration issued at the end of a summit in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, on 16 August, they said that that an effective global security system can only be set up under the aegis of the UN. They called for persistent cooperation in countering new challenges and threats, “without applying double standards” and in strict compliance with provisions of international law. The Russian, Chinese presidents and their four Central Asian counterparts also mooted setting up anti-narcotics security belts around Afghanistan. The following is the text of the declaration posted on the Kyrgyz news agency 24.kg website on 16 August, subheadings inserted editorially:

Guided by common or close approaches to the main present-day issues, the heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states (hereafter the SCO or the organization) – the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan – stated the following at a summit of the Council of the SCO member states in Bishkek on 16 August 2007:

Global security system

Globalization processes, which are gaining momentum, are increasing interdependence between countries, and as a result, their security and development have become indivisible. Only by joining the efforts of the international community on the basis of coordinated principles and within the framework of multilateral mechanisms, can one effectively counter modern challenges and threats. Unilateral moves are not capable of resolving the existing problems.

An effective global security system can be created only under the aegis of the UN and by strictly observing its Charter.

Cooperation in counteracting new challenges and threats must be carried out consistently, without applying double standards and by strictly observing provisions of international law.

Such issues as ensuring a sustainable world economy, reducing poverty, equalizing levels of social and economic development, ensuring economic, environmental, energy and information security, as well as protecting the people and territories of the SCO member states from natural and man-made disasters should not be removed from the list of problems of international security.

The SCO member states are in favour of building, on the basis of universally accepted provisions of international law, such a security structure which would do the following: reflect the balance of interests between all entities of international relations; ensure that every state has the right to independently choose ways of development in accordance with its own historical experience and national peculiarities, protect its state integrity and national dignity, take an equal part in international affairs; guarantee the settlement of international and regional conflicts and crises by political and diplomatic means, in strict compliance with principles and provisions of international law and by taking into account interests of all the sides involved in this; preserve the diversity of cultures and civilizations and encourage the implementation of initiatives which are aimed at deepening dialogue between civilizations and religions.

UN reform

The SCO member states intend to closely cooperate in finding solutions to issues of reforming the UN. Reform of the UN and above all its Security Council must be based on as broader consent of all its members as possible. Successful cooperation in this area is a guarantee that all the SCO member states’ interests in strengthening the UN’s role in every possible way and in reinforcing its Security Council’s central place in ensuring international peace and security will be implemented.

Nuclear-free zone in Central Asia

The SCO member states persistently support the strengthening of strategic stability and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and consider it to be an important and relevant move to prepare an international legal document on preventing the deployment of weapons in outer space and the use of force, or a threat to use force, against cosmic facilities.

The heads of state note the great significance of the signing (in Semipalatinsk on 8 September 2006) of a treaty on a nuclear-free zone in Central Asia, and welcome the adoption of the relevant resolution at the 61st session of the UN General Assembly, which praises Central Asian countries’ contribution to the consolidation of a nuclear non-proliferation regime and the advancement of cooperation in peaceful use of nuclear energy, as well as the strengthening of regional and international peace and security.

The heads of state support efforts by the states signatory to the treaty on a nuclear-free zone in Central Asia to sign a protocol on security guarantees with countries that possess nuclear weapons, which will ensure the fully-fledged existence of a nuclear-free space in the region.

Information security

Along with realizing the simulative role of rapid development of IT and the mass use of it in the social progress of humanity, the SCO member states express concern at the dangers of it being used for purposes which are inconsistent with the tasks of ensuring international stability and security. The SCO member states are ready to develop cooperation and step up joint efforts to strengthen international information security in its every aspect.

The heads of state believe that stability and security in Central Asia may be ensured above all by efforts of the region’s states with the help of the region’s international unions which have become firmly established in the region.

Drugs and Afghanistan

The member states note the relevance of collective work experience to counter new challenges and threats. They highly rate the activities of the SCO’s regional antiterror structure, and believe that it has serious potential to further improve cooperation in fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism.

Expressing concern over threats from drugs from Afghanistan and their negative effect on the Central Asian region, the heads of state urge the SCO to persistently strengthen cooperation in fighting drug trafficking and international efforts to be united to set up “anti-narcotics security belts” around Afghanistan. The SCO member states are ready to take part in efforts to normalize the political situation in Afghanistan and to develop economic cooperation with it. Activities of the SCO-Afghanistan contact group will be stepped up.

Energy

The presidents of the SCO member states note that energy plays an important role as the foundation of stable economic growth and security, and attach special significance to the strengthening of cooperation in this area. Reliable and mutually-beneficial cooperation in various areas of energy will promote the ensuring of security and stability both across the SCO space and the world. It seems to be an urgent task to compare energy strategies within the SCO. Given the existing resources, demand and potential, the SCO member states will also further encourage the development of dialogue on energy, as well as practical cooperation between states which produce, serve as a transit country and use energy.

The SCO members have confirmed their will to provide practical assistance to one another in carrying out national economic development programmes.

The SCO member states reiterate that the organization is open to cooperation with all the interested partners on the basis of international law and universally-accepted norms of international relations in order to find reciprocally-acceptable solutions to the pressing problems of the present day.

Originally published by 24.kg website, Bishkek, in Russian 0817 16 Aug 07.

(c) 2007 BBC Monitoring Central Asia. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.