DUSHANBE, July 11, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has good perspectives to become Asian alliance, Davlat Usmon, head of the Information-Analytical Center, Sepehr, remarked at a seminar entitled “SCO: Expansion, Problems and Prospects” in Dushanbe on July 10. 

A two-day seminar, staged by the Information-Analytical Center, Sepehr, under support of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan, has brought together researchers and experts from  Tajikistan, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan, as well as Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan to discuss different aspects of activities of the SCO.  

Davlat Usmon considers that intention of such countries as Iran, India, and Pakistan to join the Organization will most likely strengthen its Asian component. 

“A tendency is being outlined in the world for establishment of regional alliances in order to get rid of presence of external factor,” Tajik expert said.

In the meantime, the head of Russia’s Islamic Committee, Geidar Jamal, did not share Davlat Usmon’s views.  According to him, Iran will scarcely be admitted to the SCO until a threat of US attack on Iran exists, because this will put the SCO member nations in an awkward situation.

            The deputy director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan, Sayfullo Safarov, noted that Tajikistan as the country holding the SCO rotating chairmanship will support Tehran''s bid for membership.  “Iran as the country sharing common culture with us should be under umbrella of the SCO for avoiding probability of any threats,” Safarov said. 

Established in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a regional international organization  that also includes China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The ostensible aims of the organization are to combat the three "evils" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as to promote various forms of cooperation among the member governments.