SCO affirms 2012-2013 Cooperation Plan

    By Yaroslava Naumenko
    Defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member-states ratified a 2012-2013 co-operation plan March 17, Kazakhstani Defense Minister Adilbek Dzhasybekov said after the organisation's Astana conference.
    The SCO will focus on strengthening security and counter-terrorist measures, he said, adding that the co-operation plan envisions action that stresses the principles of mutual respect and mutual advantage and the spirit of consultation.
    The document, like others, “is true to the spirit of the Shanghai agreements,” said Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie. “We’ll do everything to raise our co-operation to a new level.”
    Kazakhstan plans to continue training Kyrgyz military personnel in its military academies for free. More than 110 Kyrgyz officers are now studying in Kazakhstan, representing a considerable increase over past years. About 70 Kyrgyz officers have studied in Kazakhstan since 1998.
    The SCO Defense ministers also discussed the successes of last year’s training exercise in Kazakhstan, Peace Mission-2010, and promised to stage such drills more often.
    China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan belong to the SCO, Central Asia Online said.