Post #3250

🌐 A meeting in the SCO Plus format was held in Astana. Taking part in the meeting were: • the Leaders of #SCO Member States, • the Heads of delegations from SCO observer countries and dialogue partners, • the Heads of international organisations (the #UN, the #EEC, the Islamic Organisation for Food Security, the #CSTO, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, #CICA, and the #CIS); • the guests of Kazakhstan’s Presidency. The Russian delegation attending the meeting includes Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office and Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, and Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov. The theme of the SCO Plus meeting is Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue – Striving for Sustainable Peace and Development. The agenda includes international and regional issues related to the SCO’s cooperation with invited countries. *** 💬 Vladimir Putin: I believe the growing interest in the work of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation stems from our core values and ideals: a commitment to pursuing a sovereign and independent policy, alongside a collaborative approach with other countries to find collective solutions to global problems. These principles resonate with many around the world. Our association has always emphasised the importance of considering the opinions and perspectives of a broad range of partners, respecting each state’s inalienable right to choose its own development model. It is evident that the SCO is now one of the biggest and most influential regional organisations. As our chairman mentioned, its member countries are home to nearly half of the world’s population, produce about a quarter of the global GDP, and possess substantial intellectual and technological potential, as well as a significant portion of the world’s natural resources. The active participation of the SCO in multilateral cooperation across various fields is particularly crucial in the current challenging international landscape, where fundamental political and economic transformations are taking place. ☝️ The world is becoming genuinely multipolar, with an increasing number of states ready to decisively assert their legitimate rights and interests. New centres of power are emerging, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is solidifying its position as one of these key centres. Therefore, the topic we have brought up for discussion is highly relevant: Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue – Striving Towards a Sustainable Peace and Prosperity. This theme encapsulates the core mission of the SCO since its inception in 2001 – fostering an atmosphere of security and trust throughout our shared Eurasian region. In this context, we appreciate the sincere and concrete proposals from SCO member countries for the peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis, a result of the reckless and intrusive policies of the United States and its satellites. As you know, Russia has never refused to negotiate, and is now ready to continue peace talks. It is Ukraine that withdrew from the talks, and it also did so publicly, on direct orders from London – which means Washington was also involved, there is no doubt about it – as Ukrainian officials have admitted bluntly and openly. The Istanbul agreements – we have to give credit to the President of Türkiye, Mr Erdogan, for agreeing to be part of that process as a mediator – are still on the table. They were initialed by Ukraine’s chief negotiator, which means that, to all appearances, Ukraine found them acceptable. These agreements, the Istanbul agreements, remain on the table and can be used as a starting point for further negotiation. The SCO member states coordinate their actions on the international track, including at the United Nations, and their foreign policy approaches are largely in accord or closely aligned.