[Title] DUSHANBE DECLARATION

The heads of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (hereinafter referred to as the SCO or the Organization), having met in Dushanbe for meeting of the Council of Heads of State and following the discussion of international issues and regional situation, state the following.

1. In the 21st century, the interdependence of states has increased dramatically making security and development inseparable. None of the modern international problems can be resolved by force and the role of force factor in global and regional politics has objectively decreased.

Reliance on solutions based solely on the use of force has no future and hinders comprehensive settlement of local conflicts. Existing problems can be fully solved only if the interests of all parties are fully taken into account and they are involved in the negotiation process, rather than isolated. Attempts to strengthen one's own security at the expense of the security of others do not contribute to the maintenance of global security and stability.

The participants of the Dushanbe Meeting underline the need to respect historical and cultural traditions of each country and each nation, and make efforts to preserve, based on international law, the unity of the state and its territorial integrity, as well as promote good-neighborly relations between nations and their common development.

2. Search for effective response to common challenges and threats that are global in nature, should be based on strict adherence to the UN Charter and universally recognized norms of international law and made through the joint efforts of all countries, transcended confrontation mentality, bloc politics and unipolarity and tapping the potential of multilateral diplomacy.

The SCO member states believe that in the current environment the international security should be based on the principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation. Creating global missile defense system is not conducive to maintaining strategic balance, international efforts on arms control and nuclear non-proliferation, strengthening trust between states and regional stability.

3. The SCO member states express their deep concern over the recent tensions around the issue of South Ossetia and urge the parties concerned to peacefully resolve existing problems through dialogue and make efforts to promote reconciliation and negotiations.

The SCO member states welcome the approval, on August 12, 2008 in Moscow, of the six principles for the resolution of the conflict in South Ossetia and support Russia's active role in promoting peace and cooperation in the region.

4. The SCO member states reaffirm their commitment to preventive diplomacy as an important instrument to effectively address security and development challenges, as well as to strengthening the key role of the UN in crisis prevention.

The SCO member states hold that the UN Charter provisions, Security Council resolutions and norms of international law form the legal framework for conflict prevention, while the UN Security Council has a decisive role in this area as it is entrusted with the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Noting ever increasing active role and growing potential of regional organizations in the field of preventive diplomacy, the SCO member states argue in favor of comprehensive development and improvement of cooperation between the UN and regional organizations in line with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter.

5. The member states of the Organization support broad international cooperation in solving the problems of resource provision to serve humanity needs without environmental damage, in achieving global development goals, inter alia, in overcoming the technological gap between the countries and in poverty eradication on the basis of ensuring all states an equal access to globalization benefits.

With the slowed global economy growth, implementation of responsible fiscal and monetary policy, capital movement control, and maintenance of food and energy security are of particular importance.

6. The SCO member States express their satisfaction with stronger SCO cooperation in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism and intend to raise the cooperation in security among the member states to a qualitatively new level tapping the potential of the SCO Regional Antiterrorist Structure.

The SCO member states reaffirm their commitment to strengthened central coordinating role of the UN in the international response to terrorist threat, consistent implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and expeditious finalization of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

The SCO member states are resolved to rebuff attempts to spread terrorist ideology and willing to closely cooperate in the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1624, as well as in the promotion of a dialogue between civilizations and cultures. In that, it is important to tap the potential of civil society, business community, media and non-governmental organizations.

7. The heads of state emphasize the importance of the adoption by the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly of Resolution 62/17 "Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security" and express willingness to jointly promote the implementation of the recommendations contained in this document.

The heads of state note the SCO's effective work on creating international legal framework and practical mechanisms of cooperation aimed at ensuring international information security.

8. The heads of state support deepened SCO cooperation with the United Nations, as well as with the Commonwealth of Independent States, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Eurasian Economic Community, Collective Security Treaty Organization, Organization for Economic Cooperation and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific pursuant to the signed memoranda of understanding.

9. The heads of state emphasize the importance of the dialogue between the member states on issues of effective and efficient use of water and energy resources based on the interest of the parties.

Combining efforts to establish close cooperation in developing new energy technologies, inter alia, in the context of addressing global climate change, will be of particular importance. In this regard, special attention will be paid to the development of common approaches of the SCO member states to mitigating negative effects of climate change and developing clean energy.

10. Reaffirming their commitment to the basic documents and standards for the protection and promotion of human rights, the SCO member states:

- contribute to ensuring human rights and fundamental freedoms and national minorities rights in accordance with international obligations and national law;

- exchange experiences in the implementation of international human rights treaties;

- implement existing agreements in the framework of multilateral and bilateral treaties in the humanitarian field;

- step up consultations and cooperation in the United Nations on human rights issues;

- maintain SCO collaboration with other regional organizations and integration associations on issues of humanitarian cooperation and promotion of human rights.

11. The SCO member states note increased geopolitical and economic importance of Central Asia. The dynamic development of the Organization will contribute to strengthening strategic stability, maintaining peace and security, and establishing multi-disciplinary economic and humanitarian cooperation in the region.

12. External challenges and security threats are a complicating factor in the region. Developments in Afghanistan, increased scale of drug trafficking, transnational organized crime make it necessary to strengthen cooperation, inter alia, in establishing joint mechanisms for analysis, prevention and response to these challenges and threats.

The heads of state consider it important for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) deployed in Afghanistan under the UN Security Council mandate, to pay increased attention to the task of countering production and trafficking of Afghan drugs, in cooperation with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, neighboring and other interested countries. They propose to include this issue in the ISAF mandate at the next review by the UN Security Council of the situation in Afghanistan.

The SCO member states will continue making joint efforts aimed at establishing close cooperation with other interested countries, international and regional organizations in order to create a broad partner network for combating terrorist and drug threat.

The heads of states stress the need to intensify the work of the Liaison Group SCO-Afghanistan as part of the efforts related to Afghanistan, and start practical preparations for the convening, under the SCO auspices, of a Special Conference on Afghanistan to discuss issues of joint struggle against terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime.

13. The heads of state believe that creation in of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia is an important step towards the strengthening of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In this regard, they believe that the Semipalatinsk Treaty of 2006 will contribute to strengthening peace and stability in the region, combating international nuclear terrorism, preventing the spread of nuclear materials and technologies to non-state actors.

14. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is open for constructive dialogue with all international and regional organizations that share the SCO goals and principles and are guided in their activities by international law and the UN Charter. Based on this, the SCO is willing to review potential cooperation with other international organizations in order to ensure stable, secure and harmonious development of the region with due regard to and fullest consideration of the interests of the SCO member countries.