SCO applies for observer status with CIS

MINSK. Oct 8 (Interfax) - The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has submitted an application seeking observer status with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), CIS First Deputy Secretary General Igor Petrishenko told journalists.

"The corresponding application requesting the status of an observer with the Commonwealth of Independent States has been received from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It will expand our scope of interaction and experience exchange and will allow us to share the best practices," the Belarus Segodnya state-run newspaper quoted Petrishenko as saying.

"At CIS, we actively develop international cooperation with other organizations, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Turkic States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. We also exchange experience in conducting election observation. The Council of Heads of States is meeting in a few days and will adopt a decision on the CIS+ format. In other words, a broader format of our organization's interaction with other international organizations and states will be created," he said.