Russia, China considers Iran’s accession to Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

(160524) — TASHKENT, May 24, 2016 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, May 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Sadat)

Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister talked about Iran’s possible accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, Russian presidential envoy for SCO Bakhtiyer Khakimov told journalists in Tashkent on May 24, TASS reports.

“For instance, we will remind about Iran’s application and there is also an application from Afghanistan. If we talk strictly about chronology, Iran filed its first application in 2006. However, Tehran official filed a correctly organized application only in 2008. So there is common understanding that Iran is a real candidate for joining SCO as an official full-fledged member. We do not see any obstacles, taking into account the fact that sanctions are being lifted (from Tehran),” he said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also mentioned the same subject.

He said that Iran’s accession to the SCO can be put on the agenda once India and Pakistan work through the mechanism of accession, Sputnik reports.

“We fully endorse Iran’s interest in this issue of joining the SCO. At the moment, we should focus on the issue of the accession of India and Pakistan. At the moment, we need to accumulate a significant experience and create such a base. I think, in this respect, the accession of Iran may be put on the agenda of the SCO in the future,” he said.