Fight against terror remains priority of SCO: Putin

The fight against terrorism should remain a priority of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed at a SCO meeting held here on Wednesday.

A major focus for the group would be "the security of our citizens, including efforts against international terrorism," Putin said at the meeting, mentioning unrest in Uzbekistan and in the Russian North Caucasus city of Nalchik this year, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

According to Putin, anti-terrorism structures are being set up within the SCO, including an Anti-Terrorist Center inaugurated by the organization in the Uzbek capital Tashkent in June 2004.

The Russian president also stressed the political role of the regional organization, saying the SCO "is gathering momentum and acquiring more and more political weight".

He also highlighted an economic role for the organization, ahead of a banking cooperation agreement set to be signed between SCO members later Wednesday.

Russia, China and four Central Asian states -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are member states of the SCO which was formed in 2001.

Mongolia joined as an observer in 2004. Iran, Pakistan and India were awarded the observer status in June this year.

Source: Xinhua