DUSHANBE, May 18, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik Minister of Interiors, Lieutenant-General Abdurahim Qahhorov, is participating in a meeting of the council of interior ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states that opened in Yekaterinburg, Russia on May 17, according to the Ministry of Interior (MoI).

The MoI source said that the SCO interior ministers were discussing all the range of activities of the law enforcement authorities of the SCO states, challenges facing the SCO countries, as well as prospects of further expansion of cooperation between the interior and public security agencies of the organization.

Training of police personnel, security and protectiveness of gas and oil pipelines running across the territories of the SCO countries, as well as discussion of measure to countering legalization (laundering) of criminal proceeds are among the major topics of the meeting, the source said.

The meeting is expected to result in signing of a joint statement on cooperation in fighting organized transnational crime.

Founded in Shanghai in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization comprises six member countries: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.