SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATION

(SCO)

INTRODUTION:
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental international
organization founded in Shanghai on 15 June 2001 by six countries, China,Russia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistanand Uzbekistan. These countries, except for
Uzbekistan, had been members of the Shanghai Five, founded in 1996; after the inclusion of
Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed the organisation. Its member states cover an
area of over 30 million km2, or about three fifths of Eurasia, with a population of
1.455 billion, about a quarter of the world's total. Its working languages are
Chinese and Russian.It is a political,economic and military organization.

MEMBER STATES: CHINA, RUSSIA, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYSTAN,

TAJIKISTAN,UZBEKISTAN

OBSERVER STATES:PAKISTAN, INDIA, IRAN, MANGOLIA

GUEST ATTENDENCE:AFGHANISTAN, ASEAN, CIS

EURASIA:
SCO, member states coverabout three fifths of Eurasia.Eurasia consists of the land
lying between Europe and Asia proper; namely, those made up of Western and Central
Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, part of Caucasus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and
Kyrgyzstan. there are 93 independent countries in Eurasia. This includes all 48 countries of
Europe (including the island countries of Cyprus, Iceland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom), 17
countries of the Middle East, 27 countries of Asia (including Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan,
Philippines, and Taiwan), Thus, nearly half of the world's 196 independent countries are in
Eurasia.the population of Eurasia is nearly five billion, about 71% of the planet's population. This
includes about 4.2 billion people in Asia and 740 million people in Europe,

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND:

In 1996China,Russia and three central Asian states Khazakistan,
KYRGYSTAN, and Tajikistan bordering on china. They signed the Shanghai
agreement on the confidence building in the border areas in the military field
followed in 1997 by the agreement on the mutual reduction of military forces in the
border areas. This shared security regime formed the first multi- lateral bound
between these countries called the Shanghai five. In 2001 the same group of the
countries along with the Uzbekistan further consolidated their relations by setting
up the SCO as an institution.

Purposes OF SCO:
strengthening mutual trust and good-neighborliness and friendship among
member states,
developing their effective cooperation in political affairs, the economy and trade,
science and technology, culture, education, energy, transportation, environmental
protection and other fields
working together to maintain regional peace, security and stability
promoting the creation of a new international political and economic order
featuring democracy, justice and rationality.

PRINCIPLES OF SCO:
adherence to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
respect for each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, noninterference in each other's internal affairs, mutual non-use or threat of use of
force
equality among all member states

 settlement of all questions through consultations

non-alignment and no directing against any other country or organization
opening to the outside world and willingness to carry out all forms of dialogues, exchanges
and cooperation with other countries and relevant international or regional organizations

SCO Cooperation in Various Areas:

At present, SCO cooperation has covered wide-ranging areas such as security, the economy,
transportation, culture, disaster relief and law enforcement, with security and economic
cooperation being the priorities.

1.Security cooperation.
SCO security cooperation focuses on the fight against terrorism, separatism and
extremism.The SCO was among the first international organizations to advocate explicitly
the fight against the three evil forces.On15 June 2001, the day when the SCO was founded,
theShanghaiConvention Against Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism was signed, clearly
defining terrorism, separatism and extremism for the first time on the international arena.It
outlined specific directions, modalities and principles of the concerted fight against the three
evil forces, thus helping to lay a solid legal foundation for SCO security cooperation.At the
June 2002St. Petersburg Summit, the Agreement of the SCO Member States on CounterTerrorism Regional Structurewassigned.ChinaandKyrgystan conducted a bilateral joint antiterrorism military exercise within the SCO framework in October 2002, and the SCO
member states held a successful multilateral joint anti-terrorism military maneuver in
August 2003.The SCO has also decided toset up an anti-narcotic drugs cooperative
mechanismas soon as possible, and talks on relevant documents are actively under way.

2.Economic cooperation.
Economic cooperation is a key area of cooperation for the SCO and serves as the material
foundation and guarantee for SCO's smooth development.Heads of government of the six
member states held the first meeting in Alma-Ata on 14 September 2001 to discuss regional
economic cooperation and signed theMemorandumBetween the Governments of the Member
States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the Basic Objectives and Orientation of
Regional Economic Cooperation and the Launching of a Process of Trade and Investment
Facilitation.The year 2002 saw the establishment of mechanisms for economic and trade as
well as transportation ministerial meetings successively as initial attempts to explore
avenues of substantive cooperation in trade, investment, transportation, energy and other
areas.The SCO heads of government met in Beijing for a second time on 23 September

2003 and adopted a plan for multilateral economic and trade cooperation of the SCO
member states, in which priority areas, main tasks and implementation mechanism of
economic-trade cooperation between the six SCO member states were identified.This laid an
important foundation for economic cooperation among the six member states for a fairly
long time to come.

3.Cultural cooperation:
Cultural cooperation also occurs in the SCO framework. Culture ministers of the SCO met for the
first time in Beijing on April 12, 2002, signing a joint statement for continued cooperation. The third
meeting of the Culture Ministers took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on 2728 April 2006.An SCO
Arts Festival and Exhibition was held for the first time during the Astana Summit in 2005.

MEMBER PRIVILEGES:
Each of the SCO members finds its own national interests served within the regional
organization

1. Russias Interests:
The border defense among the CIS is loose, which is also one of the reasons for the
establishment of SCO.
II. Abundant energy resources in CA are a strong impetus for Russia to maintain
security and stability in the region.
III. Many Russian live in CA.
IV. CA is an important focal point in the crackdown on terrorism and religious
extremism. The Chechnya problem has gone beyond Russias borders.
V. The region is also crucial to Russias fight against drug trafficking. Afghan peddlers
send drugs to Russia via the CA countries and then sell them to Europe. Russia is
determined to cut his channel.
VI. To counter and neutralize the US power and influence in the region vis--vis
NATO as the US bases have established in K2
VII. The Russian intensions to get hegemony over the CA oil reservoirs.
2.

Chinas Interests:
I. It can further consolidate its position in the region and gradually increase its
influence in CA. it can also better coordinate with Russia in international affairs and
deepen cooperation with it under the framework of SCO.
II. China can get considerable support in its action against the Eastern Turkestan

Islamic Movement (ETIM). The Chinese government is under pressure from foreign
countries while dealing with Ulghars having terrorist links.

3. Kazakhstans Interests:
I. To consolidate its geopolitical position. It has resolved its territorial disputes with
neighbouring countries and is now in the process of defining its boundaries.
II. As a regional stability factor, the SCO can help it attract foreign investment.
Economic integration can only be realized by eliminating instability. The SCO is not
implying a military alliance; its members can quickly transform military cooperation
into economic cooperation.
III. Cracking down on drug smuggling is an urgent task for all SCO members.
Although CA countries have signed an international agreement on the CIS fighting
against drug smuggling, cooperation under the SCO framework is more effective.
4.

Uzbekistans Interests:
I. The SCO can help the country fight terrorism and religious extremism. It also
needs SCO for the sharing of water resources.
II. The political situation in Afghanistan remains complicated and the SCO can help
its military in the event of any spillover of the conflict into its own territory.
5. Kyrgyzstans Interests:
I. The SCO can help prevent illegal military forces from entering its territory.
Evidence in the recent years showed that its military power couldnt resist wellequipped and well-trained Wahhabism forces. This also explains why Kyrgyzstan was
the first country in CA to open its airports to US.
II. Joining the SCO can help Kyrgyzstan establish closer economic ties with Russia
and China.

5.

Tajikistans Interests:
I. The SCO will help it undertake collective defence along the Tajikistan-Afghanistan
border and maintain domestic stability.
II. The country needs cooperation in fighting drug crimes. Most drugs from
Afghanistan go through the country.
III. Tajikistan also stands to benefit from close economic cooperation with other SCO
states.

GEOPOLITICAL IMPORTANCE OF SCO & ITS ROLE IN THE REGION

(CENTRAL ASIA):
What has made the SCO so significant at a time when regional groupings are the norm
and more or less every area has one. The SCO counts more than the others because it
carries weight two major powers are its members (Russia and China) and a third is an
observer (India) and it has begun to directly challenge the United States politically and
economically. Thus, the SCO has an effective mechanism for fighting terrorism in Central
Asia and this appears to have paid dividends in that some members such as Uzbekistan
have been able to ward off the challenge from the extremists. With greater cooperation

among the members it has been possible to fend off the terrorists while keeping an
expansionist America at bay. In the last summit in 2005 the SCO demanded a deadline from
the Americans for the withdrawal of their troops from the region. Although the US presence
continues with the acquiescence of the smaller Central Asian states, the SCO can collectively
project itself as a countervailing force to the United States. Joint military exercises are due
next year in 2007, which will demonstrate the will of the Shanghai Six not to bend before
the Americans politically or militarily.
The issue of Great Game was evolving around oil exists in the world from past times.
Russia has exit port through Caspian Sea that is not enough viable. USSR developed its
states to provide raw material to USSR and its states are heavily dependent on USSR for
their survival. When Puton became the president of USSR he had the strong desire to bring
these countries back to the Russias influence and he cannot afford to let go this opportunity
after the 9/11 attacks. Also it was the joint motive of China and Russia to check the
advance USA through the platform of SCO.
With the events of expansion of NATO in which it practically reached the borders of Russia,
events of great game revolving around oil and pipeline politics and the unilateralist approach
of USA, the SCO assumed a greater role to play today. Initially it wasnt a military org. but
with recent Chinese and Russian joint military exercises, it has taken a military flavor. When
USA got military bases in Uzbekistan, the two countries Russia and China got alarmed and
made a demand from the countries to abide by the objectives of the SCO. Also the profreedom movements in Russia are fully backed by the USA. So, Russia doesnt want USA
presence in the region.
IMPLICATIONS:
1. Russia is eyeing the trade and revenues of these natural resources. USA is also backing
up the Azerbaijan pipeline and purposed the development of it. USA also wants Iran and
Pakistan gas pipeline project but Russia and china do not favor this development.
2. Up till now SCO has not directly challenged USA but has the potential to become an
Eastern NATO. Russia is a necessity of CA Republics where as China is necessary due to size
of its economy. The other countries of the region now soon have to make a choice either to
join SCO or NATO. But need to be done in terms of economic and military development in
SCO before it can challenge USA
.
3. USA on the other hand has its interests in the region and is not going to leave the field to
China and Russia. The SCOs basic strategy will continue to be consolidate by the year 2020
to achieve common space for mutually beneficial exploitation of natural resources,
movement of capital, technology, goods and services. It is in the USA best interest to
engage with SCO due to two factors:
I. Natural Resources
II. Their nuclear know how

ACHIEVEMENTS:
1. The SCO has been successful mainly in four areas: resolving the border issues left
over from history, cracking down on cross-border vile forces detrimental to all
nations, promoting the sound development of regional cooperation and safeguarding
the stability and security of Central Asia.

2. Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: the main achievement of the SCO lies in the
daring efforts of Beijing and Moscow to jointly defined the concept of the SCO. From
2000-2002, the SCO responded slowly to the challenges from Islamic extremism, the
terrorist attacks on 9/11, and the US establishment of bases in CA.
3. It attracted an ever growing interest from the international community; Central Asian
countries, Russia and China came to realize that they must coordinate with each other in
an effort to resolve the most pressing regional issues; cooperation in the SCO expanded
from collective security and a crackdown on the three evil forces of terrorism,
separatism and extremism to such fields as the economy, culture and human resources;
based on equality, mutual benefit and cooperation and aimed at consolidating regional
peace, security and stability, the SCO provided a successful example for a new type of
organization in Eurasia; the SCO promoted multipolarity in international relations.
4. In 2002, the SCO established Regional Anti-terrorist Structures (RATS), with its
headquarters in Tashkent. It started functioning in June 2004 with a mission to augment
coordination between SCO member states to combat the three evil forces.

OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES:

1. The heightening political instability in CA countries has already exerted a negative
influence on the future development of the SCO. Faced with the increasingly
prominent domestic problems of its CA member states, the SCO has yet to come up
with effective solutions.
2. The complex relations b/w CA countries are likely to hold back the SCOs efforts to
promote economic cooperation
.
3. External forces have intensified their efforts to interrupt and restrain the
development of the SCO with newly adjusted start
.
4. Pan Guang: The SCO has traveled a successful yet a bumpy path. Since the
beginning of 2005, another series of dramatic changes have taken place in CA new
developments that have profound implications for the SCO and its members.
5. S. Lousianing: In the next five years, the SCO is expected to encounter old
problems such as Islamic extremism, separatism and drug trafficking. However,
these chronic problems will take more radical forms. Countries that share the
Fergana Valley, namely Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, nay suffer from
regional instability by extremism forces.
6. The SCO will have to face the following challenges in the next five years: energy
shortages, anti-dumping and protectionism in international trade; instability in the
worlds financial system and discriminatory currency convertibility policies;
population, migration, poverty and unemployment; instability in the SCOs
neighbouring countries; terrorism, extremism and separatism and their sponsors;
drug trafficking; the illegal trade of weapons of mass destruction and human
trafficking; the export of colour revolutions or counter-revolutions; disagreements
among the SCO member countries; the ostensible rather than substantial
implementation of the SCOs revolutions.

DRAWBACK:
A major drawback of the organization is that its observer status system has no
definite goals, having an impression that naming observers is intended to comfort
countries that hope to join the organization India, Iran and Pakistan. The creation
of the observer status system is a tactic. Sooner or later, the SCO will have to define
its relationship with observer states strategically.

Institutional Set-Up of SCO:

The SCO institutions consist of two parts: the meeting mechanism and the
permanent organs.
1.Council of Heads of State.
It is the highest SCO organ.Its main functions are: to identify priority areas and basic
directions of SCO activities; to determine matters of principle concerning SCO
internal set-up and operation; to decide on matters of principle of SCO cooperation
with other countries and international organizations; and to study pressing
international issues.
Regular sessions of the Council of Heads of State are held once a year in member
states alternately according to the Russian alphabetical order of the country
names.The host country of the session of the Council of Heads of State assumes the
rotating presidency of the organization.Uzbekistanis the current state of presidency.
2.Council of Heads of Government.
Its main functions are: to adopt SCO budgets; to study and determine the principal
matters of cooperation in specific areas within the SCO framework, especially in the
economic field.Regular sessions of the Council of Heads of Government are held once
a year.
3.Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
Its main functions are: to study and resolve major issues of current SCO activities,
including preparing for the meeting of the Council of Heads of State, implementing
SCO decisions, and holding consultations on international issues.Regular sessions of
the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs are arranged to take place one month
before the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of State.The Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the host country of the meeting of the Council of Heads of State serves as
chairman of the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and may
conduct external relations on behalf of the SCO.
4.Conference of Heads of Agencies.
Its main function is to study and resolve specific questions of cooperation in
specialized areas.At present, the meeting mechanism has been established for
attorneys general (procurators general), and ministers of defense, the economy,
commerce, transportation and culture as well as heads of law-enforcement, security,

emergency and disaster-relief agencies.

5.Council of National Coordinators.
It is a coordinator and management organ of SCO routine activities.It meets at least
three times a year.Its chairman is the National Coordinator of the host country of the
meeting of the Council of Heads of State and may represent the SCO externally
subject to authorization by the chairman of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
6.Secretariat.
As SCO's standing executive organ, the Secretariat is based inBeijingand will be
officially launched in January 2004.Its main functions are: to provide organizational
and technical support for SCO activities, to participate in the study and
implementation of SCO documents, and to put forward suggestions for SCO annual
budget-making.The Executive Secretary is appointed by the Council of Heads of
State.Member states take turns according to the Russian alphabetical order of their
country names to serve a non-consecutive three-year term.The first Executive
Secretary is Mr. Zhang Deguang (Chinese citizen).
7.Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS).
This is a SCO permanent organ based inTashkent, capital of Uzbekistan.It will be
officially launched in January 2004.Its main function is to coordinate SCO member
activities against terrorism, separatism and extremism.The RATS is composed of the
Council and the Executive Committee.The Council, a decision-making and leading
body of RATS, is composed of leading officials of the competent authorities of the
member states.
Director of the Executive Committee, which is RATS' routine executive body, is
appointed by the Council of Heads of State.

MAP OF MEMBERS OF SHANGHAI COOPERATION

ORGANISATION

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CLASS:

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TOPIC:
(SCO)

SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATION

SUBJECT:

REGIONAL ORGANISATION

MAJOR:

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS