THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (“the SCO”) has united the Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.  The SCO dates back to the Treaty on Strengthening of Trust between Military Authorities in Border Territories and to the Treaty on Mutual Reduction of Armed Forces in Border Territories entered into by and between the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, and the Republic of Tajikistan, on the one hand, and the People’s Republic of China, on the other hand, in 1996 and 1997, respectively. 

The SCO Foundation Declaration was signed at the summit of the heads of the six states held in Shanghai on June 15, 2001.  The SCO Charter was accepted at the summit held in St.Petersburg on June 7, 2002.  The SCO Charter became effective on September 19, 2003.  The SCO Charter is the basic founding document specifying the goals, the principles, the structure and the main areas of activities of the Organization.

The Treaty of Long-Term Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation executed in Bishkek on August 16, 2007, that sets the stage for a qualitative leap of diversified interactions, has substantially solidified the legal foundation of the Organization.  By now, the Treaty ratification formalities have been completed by the Kyrgyz Republic, the People’s Republic of China, and the Russian Federation.

The Council of the heads of the SCO member states acts as the supreme authority of the Organization.  Its mission is to set the priorities and to identify the main areas of activities of the Organization, to outline its basic structure and functions, to identify the issues of interaction with other states and organizations, and to consider the most vital international problems.

The Council of the heads of the governments (prime ministers) of the SCO member states adopts the budget of the Organization, considers and resolves the principal issues of interaction, particularly, in the area of economic activity. 

The Council of ministers of foreign affairs of the SCO member states is responsible for the preparation of summits (sessions) of the Council of the heads of states, issues resolutions authorizing performance within the Organization of any consultations on international problems.

Conferences (sessions) of ministers and directors of other authorities of SCO member states are designated to ensure cooperation in specific areas.  Coordination assurance vehicles are in place to ensure optimization of the joint efforts of ministers responsible for foreign economic operations, particularly, foreign trade, as well as transport, education, culture, defense, and emergencies management.  Commissions of senior officers and workgroups of experts are also in place.

Summits of general prosecutors, chiefs of drug control authorities, customs services, supreme and arbitration courts are held on an ongoing basis.  The first meeting of heads of parliaments of the SCO member states was held in Moscow in 2006. 

The Council of National Coordinators coordinates day-to-day operations of the Organization as well as the interaction between the ministries and other authorities of the SCO member states.

Mr. L.P. Moiseyev, Ambassador-at-Large, Special Representative of the Russian Federation in charge of the SCO affairs, acts as the National Coordinator for the Russian Federation.  

The Regional Antiterrorist Structure is a permanent body that coordinates cooperation between competent authorities of the SCO member states under the Shanghai Convention on Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism of June 15, 2001, other agreements and documents executed by SCO member states.  The constituent authorities of the Regional Antiterrorist Structure include the Council and the Executive Committee of the Council of the Regional Antiterrorist Structure. 

Meetings (sessions) of Secretaries of Security Councils of the SCO member states represent an efficient consultation and coordination facility.  Their mission is to respond to new challenges and threats.

The following permanent administrative bodies have been operating since January 2004:

- the SCO Secretariate is based in Beijing, People’s Republic of China.  The SCO Secretariate is headed by the General Secretary and SCO Chief Executive Officer appointed by virtue of a resolution of the Council of the heads of states for a term of three years, on the basis of rotation.  Since January 1, 2007, position of the General Secretary has been occupied by B.K. Nourgaliev, representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

- - the Executive Committee of the Council of the Regional Antiterrorist Structure is based in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan.  The Executive Committee is headed by Director, appointed by virtue of a resolution of the Council of the heads of states for a term of three years, on the basis of rotation.  Since January 1, 2007, position of Director of the Executive Committee has been occupied by M.U. Soubanov, representative of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Any resolutions of the SCO authorities require consensus of all member states.

Permanent representatives of the SCO member states are delegated into the SCO Secretariate and into the Executive Committee of the Council of the Regional Antiterrorist Structure based in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan.

Mongolia obtained the status of an SCO observer in 2004, and India, Iran and Pakistan - in 2005.  Their involvement is governed by Provisions of the SCO Observer Status issued in 2004, and by Procedures for Interactions between SCO and Observers issued in 2006.  In 2008, Regulations governing interactions between the Regional Antiterrorist Structure, on the one hand, and States and International Intergovernmental Organizations (Forums) as SCO Observers, on the other hand, were adopted.

SCO Provisions governing the status of a partner in a dialogue were approved at the SCO summit in Dushanbe on August 28, 2008.

Following the existing practice, the SCO chairmanship responsibilities are performed within a term of one year as of completion of a summit of the SCO heads of states and through the next summit of the heads of states held in the SCO chairman state.  The Republic of Tajikistan was chairman of the SCO before the summit held in Doushanbe on August 28, 2008.  In 2008 – 2009, the Russian Federation performs responsibilities of the SCO chairman state.