SCO Defense Ministries can help neutralize threats and challenges in Central Asia - Russian defense minister
KHUJAND, Tajikistan. April 1 (Interfax) - The member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) can take advantage of their Defense Ministries' potential in order to neutralize multiple threats and challenges, including those facing Central Asia, Russian Defense Minister Gen. Sergei Shoigu said.
"The goal of our cooperation is to promote confidence-building measures in military issues, bolster stability, security and peace in the region, as well as enhance our counterterrorism capabilities. Terrorism, separatism, extremism and drug trafficking continue to pose a serious threat to security in Central Asia. The potential of our Defense Ministries can be used to tackle these numerous tasks and neutralize emerging challenges and threats," Shoigu said after a meeting with his counterparts from other SCO member states in Khujand, Tajikistan, on Tuesday.
Following today's session, the sides signed a joint communique that outlines all of the earlier achieved agreements, he said.
"We reached consolidated decisions on ways to further promote cooperation between the Defense Ministries within the SCO. They are governed by approaches adopted by the heads of our states at the organization's Bishkek summit," the Russian minister said.
Among other topics, the meeting addressed preparations for this year's Peace Mission joint antiterrorist exercises, which will be held in China, Shoigu said.
"We also agreed upon the priorities of our cooperation plan for 2014-2015," he added.