[Title] BISHKEK DECLARATION By the Heads of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
The heads of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (hereinafter referred to as the SCO or the Organization), following the meeting of the Council of Heads of State held on September 13, 2013 in Bishkek, hereby declare the following.
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Seeking continued steady development of the Organization, the member states reaffirm their commitment to work together on the basis of the principles and provisions of the SCO Charter and other documents of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. They note that effectiveness of the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has formed a reliable legal basis for ensuring lasting peace and common prosperity in the SCO region.
The member states have concluded that today the international relations are undergoing a period of serious transformation and substantially strengthened factors of uncertainty and volatility. Global challenges and threats - terrorism, separatism and extremism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, illicit drug trafficking, organized crime, cybercrime, development imbalances, volatility in food markets, climate change – have become transnational and require greater attention of the international community. Many regional and local conflicts remain unresolved.
The member states consistently advocate further strengthening of the legal framework of international relations on the basis of the universally recognized principles and norms of international law, in particular the United Nations Charter and international obligations of states, and respecting the independent choice by the people of their way for political and socio- economic development.
The member states point out that international and regional conflicts should be settled solely by peaceful political and diplomatic means on the basis of equality, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, non-use of force or threat of force.
The member states are in favor of further strengthening the UN central coordinating role in international affairs in maintaining peace, security and stability and promoting common sustainable and creative development and promoting broad mutually beneficial international cooperation. They recognize the need to reform the UN in order to further improve the efficiency of its operations and strengthen its capacity to respond promptly and effectively to global challenges and threats.
The member states believe that in order to achieve the broadest possible consensus on the reform of the UN Security Council, the countries concerned should continue consultations aimed at finding an integrated approach to its solution that would take into account mutual interests and concerns, without forcing the reform options that enjoy no support from the majority of the UN member states.
The member states, in view of the dynamic and fundamental change underway in the world that affect their interests and based on the high level of mutual trust, will seek to ensure security, stability, good-neighborliness, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation in the region.
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The member states actively and consistently address international terrorism, separatism and extremism, transnational organized crime, illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, as well as weapons, ammunition and explosives, information security threat, illegal migration and support further improvement of the regulatory framework for cooperation in these areas.
Emphasizing that the totality of these negative factors constitute a serious challenge to global and regional security, the member states strongly aim to continue practical implementation of the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, SCO Counter- Terrorism Convention, Program of SCO member states' cooperation in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism for 2013-2015, and Agreement between the governments of SCO member states on cooperation in international information security.
The member states hold that drug trafficking and their non-medical use pose a serious threat to the stability and security, health and wellbeing of the population of the countries in the region. They consider necessary to take measures aimed at creating an effectively functioning system of joint struggle against the drug menace, establishing a reliable barrier to illegal circulation of narcotics, psychotropic substances and their precursors, as well as countering the spread of drug addiction. They are in favor of active cooperation with other interested states, regional and international organizations and agencies in this regard.
The member states express their willingness to intensify the practical implementation of the provisions of the Agreement between the SCO member states on cooperation in combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, Anti-drug Strategy of the SCO Member States for 2011-2016, and Program of Actions for its implementation.
The member states will encourage building a peaceful, secure, fair and open information space based on the principles of respect for state sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. They will oppose the use of information and communication technologies for undermining political, economic and social security of the member states, and prevent the use of Internet to propagate terrorist, extremist and separatist ideologies, and support elaboration of the universal rules, principles and standards of states' responsible behavior in the information space .
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The member states support the efforts to make Afghanistan an independent, neutral, peaceful, prosperous nation, free from terrorism and drug-related crime. They stress that the national reconciliation should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned in order to contribute to an early achievement of peace and stability in that country. Calling on the international community to create conditions for peace as soon as possible, the member states support the UN central coordinating role in the international efforts to settle the situation in Afghanistan and assist in the reconstruction of the country.
The member states express their deep concern over the developments in the Middle East and North Africa, in particular in Syria, and favor achieving peace, stability, prosperity and progress in the region without external interference, inter alia, by force, not sanctioned by the UN Security Council.
The member states favor an early cessation of the crisis in Syria achieved by the Syrians themselves with the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic respected, discontinued violence in that country, launch of a broad political dialogue between the authorities and the opposition without preconditions on the basis of the Geneva Communiqué of June 30, 2012. The member states support the efforts to convene an international conference to lay the groundwork for reconciliation and normalization in Syria, as well as assist the international community throughout this process. They strongly condemn all acts of terrorism and violence against civilian population, especially on religious or ethnic grounds, and oppose illegal actions aimed at further militarization of the internal conflict in Syria.
The member states support the initiative aimed at subjecting the Syrian chemical weapons to international control and its subsequent destruction and accession by Syria to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction.
The member states express concern over the situation around Iran and its nuclear program. They believe that the threat of or the use of military force and unilateral sanctions by individual states against this country are unacceptable. The confrontational approach is fraught with serious and unpredictable consequences for the entire region and international peace and security as a whole. The member states are convinced there is no alternative to a peaceful resolution of this issue.
The member states call on all countries to exercise maximum restraint and responsible approach and avoid statements and especially actions that trigger further escalation of the confrontation.
The existing concerns can be addressed solely through peaceful means based on the principles of gradualism and reciprocity. In this regard, it is important to maintain the momentum of the negotiation process gained by the meetings of the representatives of the "six" of international mediators with Iran in February and April of 2013 in Almaty, and reach specific mutually acceptable agreements.
The member states believe that negotiations and consultations are the only effective ways to preserve peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, as well as its denuclearization. They called for an early resumption of the six-party talks on the nuclear problem of the Korean Peninsula on the basis of the purposes and principles of the joint statement by the "six" of September 19, 2005.
The member states reaffirm that the unilateral and unlimited build-up of missile defense systems by one state or group of states without taking into account the interests of other countries, can be detrimental to the strategic stability and international security. The relevant problems should be resolved through political and diplomatic efforts of all interested states. The member states are convinced that it is impossible to guarantee one's own security at the expense of others.
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The continued instability of the global economy requires effective joint actions by the SCO member states in the field of economic cooperation which is an important element of the sustainable socio-economic development and stability in the SCO region.
The member states consider essential to practically implement the List of Actions aimed at further development of the project activities within the Organization in 2012-2016 and the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Program of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation among the SCO Member States.
The heads of state noted the importance of the work related to the review of the issue of the establishment of the SCO Development Fund (Special Account) and the SCO Development Bank and instructed to continue these efforts aiming at its early completion.
The heads of state are convinced of the need to accelerate the implementation of projects of the expansion of transport and communication capacity in the region, infrastructure development, building international multi-modal centers of logistics, trade and tourism, introduction of innovative and energy-saving technologies, including through the involvement of the potential of observer states and dialogue partners. In this regard, the member states seek to promote a favorable environment for the development of trade, economic and investment activities in the SCO region.
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The member states will continue collaboration in the scientific, technical, cultural and humanitarian areas and in tourism, which further strengthen the long-term good-neighborly relations, friendship and cooperation, spiritual convergence, promotion of intercultural dialogue in the interests of the peoples living in the SCO region.
The member states intend to continue developing relations in the health sector, including matters of establishing effective practical mechanisms to address the threat of dangerous and other communicable diseases.
The member states note the importance of the strengthened capacity to prevent emergencies caused by natural and man-made disaster, as well as provide joint response.
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The member states will continue to strengthen cooperation in the framework of the Organization in order to bring it to a qualitatively new level and make the SCO a region of lasting peace, friendship, prosperity and harmony.
In this regard, the heads of state entrust the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the SCO member states to arrange drafting a Development Strategy of the Organization until 2025 and submit it to the SCO CHS according to the prescribed procedure.
The member states are open for a dialogue with interested states, international and regional organizations on issues of security and stability, deepening of mutually beneficial trade, economic and cultural relations in the region and the world.
September 13, 2013, Bishkek