Shanghai group supports Russia’s role in South Ossetia
Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation have signed a declaration in support of Russia's peacekeeping mission in South Ossetia. The member states expressed support for Russia's peacekeeping efforts.
The declaration is a direct response to President Dmitry Medvedev’s call to support Russia’s role in the Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence dispute. Speaking at the SCO summit in Dushanbe, Medvedev thanked the members for their understanding and objective evaluation of Russia’s peacekeeping mission.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an alliance which was founded on the basis of the Shanghai Five (China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Russia). Its priority and founding principle is security and stability in the Greater Central Asian region.
“Unfortunately, we have to state that attempts are being made to secure certain interests using force, not the principles of strict observance of international law and denial of confrontational bloc thinking,” said the President.
"A fine example of such irresponsible criminal actions is Georgia's aggression against South Ossetia. It is well-known who connived with the Georgian authorities and even incited them, pursuing their own profit. Such behavior is unacceptable and should be stopped. In such an extreme situation, we remained reserved and continued our responsible and predictable policy.
“We are confident that the position of SCO member states will produce an appropriate resonance through the international community, and I hope this will give a serious signal to those who are trying to justify the aggression that was committed,” Medvedev added in his address to SCO national leaders.
