Nazarbayev supports involvement of Afghanistan and Turkey in SCO activities

Nazarbayev supported involvement of Afghanistan and Turkey in SCO activities, Tengrinews.kz reports. “I support the evaluation of the situation in the world and the region made by President Hu Jintao. Considering the withdrawal of the International Security Forces from Afghanistan and the transfer of full responsibility for security in the country to the local government in 2014, I think it is necessary to establish a constant monitoring and information exchange in Afghanistan in the framework of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS). We suppose that approval of Afghanistan’s request for SCO observer status will enhance economic and humanitarian cooperation with this country. We support giving a dialog partner status to Turkey. We hope that involvement of Afghanistan and Turkey in the activities of the organization could trigger a start of a new stage in SCO development,” Kazakhstan President said at the Council of heads of SCO member-countries. Nursultan Nazarbayev also noted that Kazakhstan only supports regulation of Iran's nuclear program through diplomatic methods. He also expressed hope for a soon stabilization of the situation in Syria and vowed support to activities of the global community “on distressing and establishing the political dialog and provision of humanitarian aid to Syrian people”. By Renat Tashkinbayev