SCO and its role in development of Central Asia

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SCO and its role in development of Central Asia
Alexander Bulatov Russian Trade Mission in the
USA (New York office) Presentation for Third
Colloquium The Pipeline Race to India and
Pakistan School of International and Public
Affairs Columbia University New York, November
13, 2007
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SCO milestones
(1996) International Agreement on measures to
increase military confidence in border region
(Shanghai)
Agreement on mutual armed forces reduction in
border region (1997)
Alma-Aty (1998)
Shanghai 5 non-institutional adhoc
policies coordination
Bishkek (1999)
Dushanbe (2000)
SCO establishment Shanghai June, 2001
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SCO goals

• to increase mutual confidence, good will
  neighborliness and friendship
• to maintain peace, increase security and
  stability in the region
• to promote new democratic, fair and rational
  international system in politics and economy
• to fight jointly terrorism, separatism and
  extremism, illegal drug and weapons traffic and
  other transnational crimes
• to encourage regional cooperation in trade,
  finance, energy, defense, law enforcement,
  environment, scientific, education, culture,
  transport and other policies of mutual interest
• to endorse balanced and comprehensive economic
  growth, social and cultural development in the
  region through joint actions based on equal
  partnership
• to coordinate global economy integration policies
  
• to assist in human rights and basic freedoms in
  accordance with international commitments and
  national laws
• to maintain and develop relations with outside
  nations and international organizations
• to cooperate in international conflicts
  prevention and peaceful resolution

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Central Asia Cooperation Structures
Legend CIS EurAsEC SCO CAREC CSTO
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
Belorussia
Armenia
Afghanistan
Azerbaijan
Russia
Georgia
Kyrgyzstan
Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan
Tajikistan
Mongolia
Moldova
China
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Source SIPRI
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SCO Road map

• Peacekeeping, security and confidence building
• Cooperation in International policies of mutual
  interest including International organizations
• Terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as
  drug, weapons and human illegal traffic fighting
• Disarmament and arms control policies
  coordination
• Regional economic cooperation encouragement aimed
  at free flows of commodities, capital, services
  and technologies
• Current transport and communications
  infrastructure effective engagement, transit
  potential and energy systems development
• Rational resource (esp. water) use, joint
  environmental program implementation
• Mutual assistance in emergencies and disasters

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SCOs moves in economic cooperation

• Program for Multidimensional trade and economic
  cooperation through 2020 (adopted in 2003)
• SCO Business Council and Interbank Union (since
  2005)
• SCO Forum (est. in May 2006) as common floor for
  coordination within SCO between public and
  research centers of member-nations
• SCO University adopted in 2007
• Pilot regional highway projects has been launched
• Next Energy Club or/and Asian Energy Strategy ?

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SCOs contribution towards Regional and Global
Energy security

• Primary focus on
• modernization of existing energy facilities
• exploration of newly discovered hydrocarbon
  reserves
• construction of oil and gas pipelines, power
  lines
• guarantee an acceptable balance of interests
  among energy-producing, transit and consumer
  states
• SCO Energy Club and the Asian Energy Strategy

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Speculations over SCO future