Inclusion of Afghanistan and Turkey in SCO to open a new stage of Organization's development - Nazarbayev
BEIJING. June 6. KAZINFORM We hope that the involvement of Turkey and Afghanistan in the activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will contribute to the beginning of a new stage of the Organization's development, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has said today in Beijing at a meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State.
"We believe that meeting the request of Afghanistan to gain SCO observer status will strengthen the economic and humanitarian cooperation with this country," the Kazakh President said.
Referring to the situation in Afghanistan, Nazarbayev said that in view of the withdrawal of international Security Assistance Force from the country in 2014 he considers it necessary to start permanent monitoring and exchange of information on the situation in Afghanistan through the Security Councils and the RATS.
Nursultan Nazarbayev has supported granting a dialogue partner status to Turkey.
"Kazakhstan calls on for settlement of Iran's nuclear issue exclusively by diplomatic means," the Kazakh President emphasized.
On the Syrian issue, the Head of State expressed hope for the speedy stabilization of the situation in the country and expressed his support for the actions of the international community on relieving tension, establishing political dialogue and providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Syria.