Armenia seeks Shanghai Cooperation Organization observer status

PanARMENIAN.Net - President Serzh Sargsyan reiterated Armenia’s interest in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) observer status.

At the CSTO summit in Sochi, the Armenian leader stressed the SCO contribution to maintaining peace and stability in the region, further asking his counterparts for support in acquisition of the observer status.

As Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan noted at an earlier meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang, Armenia seeks an observer status with SCO, with Mr Keqiang pledging to discuss the issue with his SCO partners.

Alexei Martynov, director of the International Institute for New States commented on Armenia’s intention to join the SCO. “Armenia bordering with Iran and being located in the same region for which SCO was created, the country’s involvement in such an integration format seems quite logical.”

As he noted, after decision to join the Customs Union, Yerevan needs to expand the integration process. “With its statements, Yerevan confirmed its intention to pursue the same integration formats as Russia,” Martynov told The Voice of Russia radio station.

He also stressed the increase in the international members of SCO as a positive development to boost the Organization. “Shanghai Cooperation Organization was created as an Asian-oriented body to unite central Asian republics like China and Russia,” he said.