Meeting of Defence Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Member States

Astana hosted the Council of Defence Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states.

On the eve of the Council, the heads of delegations planted trees in front of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

At the Council, the parties discussed a number of issues on the military line of cooperation, as well as exchanged views on the challenges and threats to regional and international security to the SCO member states and measures to neutralise them.

Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin made a report at the Council. The Head of the Defence Ministry expressed confidence that Belarus and the SCO countries would become a pillar in creating new security systems in Eurasia and the world.

Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin’s main statements:

- Under the conditions of global geopolitical transformations, the usual architecture of international security has actually ceased to exist.

- One of the results of this situation has been the degradation and breakdown of the arms control system and the unleashing of another round of the “arms race”.

- Belarus is interested in restoring the influence of international security and cooperation organisations and their effective work in preventing and resolving military conflicts.

- The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and its member States can become a pillar in the creation of new security systems in Eurasia and the world.

- We are in favour of the peaceful resolution of any disputes and conflicts.

- Belarus has decided to join the SCO and has now completed all the necessary procedures to join the Organisation.

- Belarus and the SCO will be able to ensure the construction of a fair and balanced world order based on an equal, joint, indivisible, comprehensive and sustainable security system, ensuring the interests of each State in accordance with the norms and principles of international law.