Kyrgyzstan Ratifies SCO Counterterrorism Agreement
March 22, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Kyrgyzstan's parliament has ratified an agreement on joint counterterrorism measures on the territory of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported.
The chairman of Kyrgyzstan's State Committee on National Security, Murat Sutalinov, told lawmakers the accord was aimed at improving law enforcement coordination between the regional grouping's member states -- China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
"This agreement will allow the Kyrgyz Republic to develop relations with other countries on a broader basis and prove its readiness to join forces and assets in the struggle against terrorism, separatism, and extremism," he said.
Under the agreement, a new counterterrorism database would gather information about terrorist groups and their financing.
Meanwhile, the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry today announced that the next SCO summit would be held near the capital, Bishkek, on August 16.
(with material from 24.kg, AKIpress)
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