YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: The President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan appealed to the member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization to support Armenia in getting an observer’s status at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. As reported by Armenpress, quoting Itar-Tass, Serzh Sargsyan assured that Armenia is interested in the activities of the Organization, which makes a considerable contribution in the security preservation in the region. “I am looking forward to your support in this issue”, - said the President of the Republic of Armenia, applying to the heads of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The prominent Asian regional alliance known as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization began as an informal grouping of five nations that attempt to resolve border disputes multilaterally to promote neighborly relations.

The “Shanghai Five,” formed in 1996, included China, Russia and three Central Asian states that share their borders: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The regional bloc grew to six members with the admission of Uzbekistan in 2001 and renamed itself the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Uzbekistan does not border China or Russia.

The group's 2001 expansion also entailed a broadening of its focus to include international terrorism, religious extremism and ethnic separatism — problems that affect all six nations. The SCO says one of its main goals is to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in region.

Other major goals of the SCO include promoting cooperation on politics, education and economic issues such as energy, transportation, tourism, science and environmental protection.

SCO nations also seek to establish what they call a “new political and economic international order” that is “democratic, just and rational.” China and Russia, the bloc's two leading powers, agree that such a “new order” should limit the U.S. presence in Central Asia, which they see as their sphere of influence.