The regional anti-terrorist structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (RATS SCO) and the European Union note the importance of consolidating international efforts in countering new challenges and threats, the RATS press service reports.
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According to the press service, Director of the SCO RATS Executive Committee Ruslan Mirzaev met in Tashkent with EU Special Representative for Central Asia Teri Hakala.
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“During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on current international and regional security issues. They noted the importance of consolidating international efforts in countering new challenges and threats,” a message on the RATS website says.
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The executive committee of the RATS and the EU highly appreciates the establishment and development of bilateral contacts in the interests of security and stability in the regions of responsibility of the SCO and the EU, the press service added.
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The SCO is an international organization founded in 2001. It includes India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Observer countries are Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia, partner countries are Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, UAE, Turkey and Sri Lanka. At the SCO summit in Samarkand in September 2022, a document was adopted on the beginning of the procedure for admitting Belarus to membership in the organization. The headquarters of the SCO RATS is located in Tashkent.