Uzbek, Turkmen Officials off to SCO Conference
Uzbek, Turkmen Officials off to SCO Conference
On March 27, Turkmen and Uzbek officials will join other representatives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, SCO, gathering in Moscow for a conference on Afghanistan.
According to Russian media reports, the conference will discuss coordination of efforts to fight terrorism, transnational crime and drug trafficking.
Counter-narcotics work is of particular relevance to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, both of which border on Afghanistan.
The SCO’s full members are Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Turkmenistan is not a member but participates in SCO events with guest status.
Tashkent and Ashgabat have both been involved in discussions on resolving the conflict in Afghanistan. Uzbek president Islam Karimov has proposed a new initiative for negotiations, Turkmenistan’s Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov has indicated a willingness to cooperate with international organisations on matters including the Afghan conflict.
Although the Uzbeks and Turkmen have been reluctant to be part of other former Soviet regional groupings, working with the SCO offers them certain benefits, for example with regard to Afghanistan and also energy matters.
Last October, SCO members established an “energy club”, important to oil- and gas-rich Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan given that they share pipeline and transport networks with other member states.
According to Russian media reports, the conference will discuss coordination of efforts to fight terrorism, transnational crime and drug trafficking.
Counter-narcotics work is of particular relevance to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, both of which border on Afghanistan.
The SCO’s full members are Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Turkmenistan is not a member but participates in SCO events with guest status.
Tashkent and Ashgabat have both been involved in discussions on resolving the conflict in Afghanistan. Uzbek president Islam Karimov has proposed a new initiative for negotiations, Turkmenistan’s Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov has indicated a willingness to cooperate with international organisations on matters including the Afghan conflict.
Although the Uzbeks and Turkmen have been reluctant to be part of other former Soviet regional groupings, working with the SCO offers them certain benefits, for example with regard to Afghanistan and also energy matters.
Last October, SCO members established an “energy club”, important to oil- and gas-rich Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan given that they share pipeline and transport networks with other member states.
