22 November 2011 | 11:39

Nazarbayev supports India and Pakistan's entering SCO

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev. ©Maksim Popov

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev is not against expansion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) throuh joining India, Pakistan and possibly Iran, Interfax-Kazakhstan reports. “I support the idea of accepting India and Pakistan and maybe later Iran,” he said in Moscow. The President, however, noted that not everything depends on his opinion. You know those political problems they have. I personally am not against expansion of the SCO, but this is a collegial decision of all member-countries,” Nazarbayev said. He reminded that the 10th anniversary of the SCO was recently celebrated in Astana. “We have talked about it and have talked about conditions for acceptance of new members. There are certain conditions. We want the organization to be strong and reputable. Kazakhstan President noted that several countries, including the U.S., would like to become observers in the SCO. He reminded that this status is currently held by six countries, including India, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Nazarbayev stressed that the issue of membership in the SCO, the issue of observer status is “decided upon via consent of all member-states”, i.e. by consensus.

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev is not against expansion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) throuh joining India, Pakistan and possibly Iran, Interfax-Kazakhstan reports. “I support the idea of accepting India and Pakistan and maybe later Iran,” he said in Moscow. The President, however, noted that not everything depends on his opinion. You know those political problems they have. I personally am not against expansion of the SCO, but this is a collegial decision of all member-countries,” Nazarbayev said. He reminded that the 10th anniversary of the SCO was recently celebrated in Astana. “We have talked about it and have talked about conditions for acceptance of new members. There are certain conditions. We want the organization to be strong and reputable. Kazakhstan President noted that several countries, including the U.S., would like to become observers in the SCO. He reminded that this status is currently held by six countries, including India, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Nazarbayev stressed that the issue of membership in the SCO, the issue of observer status is “decided upon via consent of all member-states”, i.e. by consensus.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization SCO Pakistan Nursultan Nazarbayev news Nazarbayev Kazakhstan Kazakh India