SCO Officials Meet In Tajikistan, Discuss Afghan Withdrawal

The April 17 meeting in Dushanbe included secretaries of the Security Councils of SCO member states China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

DUSHANBE -- Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have met in the Tajik capital to discuss regional security in the wake of the withdrawal of most foreign combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

The April 17 meeting in Dushanbe included secretaries of the Security Councils of SCO member states China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The sides also discussed joint efforts against separatism, terrorism, religious extremism, illegal drugs trafficking, and cross-border organized crime.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon called on the organization to adopt a new development strategy, taking into account the "current challenges in the world."

China's Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun said that "external forces" were trying to overthrow governments in some countries by "using socioeconomic contradictions" and by "provoking new waves of colored revolutions." He did not elaborate.

The sides also signed a protocol on cooperation.
With reporting by ITAR-TASS and Interfax