The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has become a major
force in the international fight against terrorism, which gives
priority to cracking down on the "three evil forces" of terrorism,
extremism and separatism, said Zhang Deguang, the first secretary
general of the SCO, in Beijing
Thursday.??
Zhang made the remark at a press conference after the SCO member
states held a one-day ad hoc foreign ministers' meeting and
the inaugural ceremony of the secretariat of the SCO, a permanent
secretariat in Beijing.
The SCO members exchanged views on combating terrorism and
decided to step up efforts in this regard following the
establishment of the secretariat, said Zhang, adding that they are
choosing to draw up documents on cooperation against drug
trafficking first.
The SCO has done a lot in striking the "three evil forces" since
it was officially established in June 2001 with China, Russia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as its members,
said Zhang.
Along with the opening of the SCO secretariat, the SCO's
Regional Anti-terrorism Center, another permanent organ stationed
in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, was also opened in January 2004.
The SCO foreign ministers have agreed to hold the inaugural
ceremony of the anti-terrorism center during the Tashkent SCO
summit in 2004, said V. T. Casymov, director of the executive
committee of the center.
The SCO attaches great importance to fighting terrorism, yet has
a lot to do in the future, said Casymov.
China shoulders 24% SCO annual fee?
The annual fee of the SCO is distributed in line with each
country's obligations and willingness, Zhang said.
Zhang said the SCO annual budget totaled US$3.5 million, of
which US$2.16 million was allocated to the secretariat. The rest
was the budget of the SCO's Regional Anti-terrorism Center.
According to Zhang, China and Russia shoulder 24 percent of the
annual fee each, while Kazakhstan took 21 percent, Uzbekistan 15
percent, Kyrgyzstan 10 percent, and Tajikistan six percent.
He stressed that even though different member states shoulder
different proportions of fees, each has an equal right in
decision-making in line with the SCO Charter and in light of
democratic consultation.
"There is no veto in the SCO, so no major country can outweigh
others," said Zhang.
(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2004)