SCO Emphasizes Importance of Nuclear Nonproliferation

The observance of the international nuclear nonproliferation regime is one of the most important factors in safeguarding peace and security in Asia and the whole world, says the Declaration of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which Leaders signed Friday at the second summit of the SCO.

The six countries, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, called on countries that have not signed or ratified the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons or the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty to enter the international framework as early as possible, which will be conducive to the strengthening of strategic stability at all levels.

The declaration says the SCO supports the establishment of nuclear weapons free zones, including Uzbekistan's initiative to establish a nuclear weapons free zone in Central Asia.

The SCO stresses that Mongolia's nuclear free status be respected and supported. The SCO welcomes the new treaty signed between Russia and the United States on further reducing their offensive strategic weapons sharply, which it considers as a positive contribution to promoting nuclear disarmament.

The declaration calls for the start of multilateral negociations at an early date to work out a comprehensive agreement on not deploying weapons in the outer space, nor using weapons directed toward the outer space.

(People's Daily June 8, 2002)