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)