Membership of India and Pakistan in SCO will make positive impact on their relations – Sergey Lavrov

UFA, 9 July 2015. /Bashinform News Agency, Rozaliya Valeeva/. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a press briefing in Ufa commented on the expansion of the SCO and joining the organization by India and Pakistan, taking into account the complex relationship between the two countries.

“We proceed from the assumption that the more formats for interaction, for communication we have with the expansion of the SCO, as in this case between India and Pakistan, the more opportunities will appear to help the two neighbouring countries to overcome the remaining disagreements between them”, Lavrov stated. “The Shanghai Cooperation Organization in its current structure includes countries, which have differences between them. And the SCO provides a platform, creates an atmosphere to smooth these contradictions as much as possible, to discuss the current difficulties and find solutions.”

Earlier, the Russian President said that India and Pakistan membership in the SCO would enhance the effectiveness of the fight against terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking. "The SCO Summit traditionally will consider the issues of regional security. We expect a decision to be adopted on launching the process of the SCO expansion. We believe that the inclusion of the new states, namely India and Pakistan into the organization will enhance the influence of the SCO, will allow more effective fight against terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and other issues", Vladimir Putin said at the ceremony of presenting credentials.