Shanghai Five to fight terrorism

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, APRIL 28.The Shanghai Five group will expand its agenda to cover the fight against terrorism, economic ties and humanitarian issues, it was announced here today at the end of a one-day meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the member-states.

Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, who form the Shanghai Five, will sign a treaty on joint struggle against terrorism, separatism and extremism during their coming summit in Shanghai in July, Russia's Foreign Minister, Mr. Igor Ivanov, told reporters after today's meeting.

This will be a major step forward for the Shanghai Five, which was initially set up five years ago to boost border security and reduce troop levels along China's frontiers with the former Soviet republics.

Earlier this month, the Chiefs-of-Staff of the group met for the first time in Bishkek to discuss plans to set up an anti- terrorist centre in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as well as military and technical aid to Kyrgyzia and Tajikistan in dealing with the growing threat of Islamic insurgency.

In a joint statement issued after the talks, the group voiced concern over the escalation of conflict in Afghanistan and called for observance of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty as a cornerstone of strategic stability.

The Russian Foreign Minister, Mr. Ivanov, said Saturday's meeting of the Shanghai Five had ``given green light'' to a meeting of their heads of government in Autumn to promote trade and economic cooperation within the grouping. The member- states also approved China's proposal for a meeting of the Ministers of Culture to discuss interaction on humanitarian issues. Mr. Ivanov did not comment on earlier reports that the Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Five were to discuss applications from Uzbekistan and Pakistan to join the regional grouping.

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Section  : International
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