Title: SCO and its role in development of Central Asia
1SCO and its role in development of Central Asia
Alexander Bulatov Russian Trade Mission in the
USA (New York office) Presentation for Third
Colloquium The Pipeline Race to India and
Pakistan School of International and Public
Affairs Columbia University New York, November
13, 2007
2SCO milestones
(1996) International Agreement on measures to
increase military confidence in border region
(Shanghai)
Agreement on mutual armed forces reduction in
border region (1997)
Alma-Aty (1998)
Shanghai 5 non-institutional adhoc
policies coordination
Bishkek (1999)
Dushanbe (2000)
SCO establishment Shanghai June, 2001
3SCO goals
- to increase mutual confidence, good will
neighborliness and friendship - to maintain peace, increase security and
stability in the region - to promote new democratic, fair and rational
international system in politics and economy - to fight jointly terrorism, separatism and
extremism, illegal drug and weapons traffic and
other transnational crimes - to encourage regional cooperation in trade,
finance, energy, defense, law enforcement,
environment, scientific, education, culture,
transport and other policies of mutual interest - to endorse balanced and comprehensive economic
growth, social and cultural development in the
region through joint actions based on equal
partnership - to coordinate global economy integration policies
- to assist in human rights and basic freedoms in
accordance with international commitments and
national laws - to maintain and develop relations with outside
nations and international organizations - to cooperate in international conflicts
prevention and peaceful resolution
4Central Asia Cooperation Structures
Legend CIS EurAsEC SCO CAREC CSTO
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
Belorussia
Armenia
Afghanistan
Azerbaijan
Russia
Georgia
Kyrgyzstan
Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan
Tajikistan
Mongolia
Moldova
China
5Source SIPRI
6SCO Road map
- Peacekeeping, security and confidence building
- Cooperation in International policies of mutual
interest including International organizations - Terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as
drug, weapons and human illegal traffic fighting - Disarmament and arms control policies
coordination - Regional economic cooperation encouragement aimed
at free flows of commodities, capital, services
and technologies - Current transport and communications
infrastructure effective engagement, transit
potential and energy systems development - Rational resource (esp. water) use, joint
environmental program implementation - Mutual assistance in emergencies and disasters
7SCOs moves in economic cooperation
- Program for Multidimensional trade and economic
cooperation through 2020 (adopted in 2003) - SCO Business Council and Interbank Union (since
2005) - SCO Forum (est. in May 2006) as common floor for
coordination within SCO between public and
research centers of member-nations - SCO University adopted in 2007
- Pilot regional highway projects has been launched
- Next Energy Club or/and Asian Energy Strategy ?
8SCOs contribution towards Regional and Global
Energy security
- Primary focus on
- modernization of existing energy facilities
- exploration of newly discovered hydrocarbon
reserves - construction of oil and gas pipelines, power
lines - guarantee an acceptable balance of interests
among energy-producing, transit and consumer
states - SCO Energy Club and the Asian Energy Strategy
9Speculations over SCO future