Iran: Russia, China Unlikely To Welcome Tehran Into SCO

[lovuian]

Iran: Russia, China Unlikely To Welcome Tehran Into SCO

After meeting Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki announced that Rahmon has promised to support Tehran's bid to become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Mottaki added that Iran wants to move from being an observing member in the regional grouping to being a full member.

Iran, Afghanistan, India, Mongolia, and Pakistan currently have observer status in the SCO. The group -- established in 1996 as the Shanghai Five before changing its name in 2001 -- includes China, Russia, and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

On March 27, SCO Secretary-General Bolat Nurgaliev, of Kazakhstan, welcomed Iran's membership bid and said it will not bring any "negative moments in relations with the regional and international organizations."

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The SCO members and observers -- which comprise 25 percent of the Earth's territory -- together form the worlds' largest producer of energy and a very formidable bloc of economic and military power

This will be the Anti Nato groups