Address to visitors of the official site of the Russian Federation presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2008-2009

I would like to welcome visitors to the official site of the Russian Federation presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

At the August summit, Russia received the SCO presidency for 2008 and 2009. We have prepared for this important mission fully and with due responsibility. The program of the presidency provides for a series of major undertakings. We have elaborated proposals for the further development of cooperation in the SCO. We are hoping that our initiatives, made with due account of the interests of all member countries, will be received positively and be supported by them.

Russia suggests that priority for the SCO member countries should be to consolidate peace and security in the SCO space, and build up cooperation to counter current threats, such as terrorism, cross-border crime and drug trafficking, including that from Afghanistan. We will continue to improve the SCO’s foreign policy coordination and expand its international contacts. (Read full text of the address here)