It was anticipated yesterday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, who will host the summit. It is expected that this time the memorandum of obligations will be signed. The Iranian deputy minister proposes the adoption of a universal currency to facilitate economic integration. First official admission to an international organization since the Islamic Revolution.
Ehran () – Tehran will become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the end of the year, with the signing of the memorandum of obligations during the Samarkand summit, scheduled for 15-16 December. September. The announcement was made yesterday by Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister, Vladimir Norov, who, quoted by RIA Novosti during a meeting in Moscow, said that “this year, under the presidency of Uzbekistan, Iran will go from being an observer state […] to become a full member of the SCO”.
It should be remembered that the Islamic Republic was already one step away from becoming a full member of the organization on September 17 last year, after the approval of the application for membership 15 years after the first request. On that occasion, the SCO began the country’s accession procedures, which usually require “considerable time” and can last up to two years. Last month, Iranian deputy foreign minister responsible for economic diplomacy, Mehdi Safari, proposed that the bloc adopt a universal currency to facilitate economic integration among member countries.
The organization has been in business for more than 20 years. Born to resolve territorial disputes in Central Asia between the six founding countries – China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – it was institutionalized covering various areas: security, economy, energy and culture, in a common fight against “terrorism, separatism and extremism”. It originates from the Shanghai Five, to which Uzbekistan has joined, and is headed by the Council of Heads of State, which meets once a year. Russia and China are the two countries that dominate the organization. In a context of growing tensions, Russia looks towards Central Asia to expand its sphere of influence, although it collides -behind the scenes- with the growing Chinese presence, at least economically.
Iran has long been an observer member, along with Mongolia, India, and Pakistan (the latter two are now permanent members); Belarus and Sri Lanka are dialogue partners and with Afghanistan there has been a dialogue for reconstruction since 2005. The Islamic Republic thus makes its first official entry into an international organization since the 1979 revolution.
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