SHANGHAI SIX SUMMIT DUE IN UZBEKISTAN

MOSCOW, JUNE 11 (RIA Novosti) - The summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kirghizia) is expected to adopt the Regulations on the SCO Observer Status and the protocol on cooperation and coordiation between its members' foreign ministries, Alexander Yakovenko, official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, told the RIA Novosti news conference.

The summit, due in Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent on June 17, will also consider combating new threats and aspects of economic cooperation.

Alexander Yakovenko expressed the hope that the heads of state will issue concrete instructions to intensify cooperation in all areas, such as political, economic, humanitarian.

The official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that a new mechanism for regular meetings between the secretaries of the SCO security councils has recently been created.

"The new mechanism could assume coordination between the corresponding bodies in the struggle against new challenges and threats", Alexander Yakovenko said.

Moscow sees the SCO as a dynamically developing organisation and the Tashkent summit will provide an additional impetus in its development, Alexander Yakovenko said.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation "is assuming a noticeable tone and its role is increasing, especially in arranging multilateral contacts in the region and opposing international terrorism". The Russian head of state said this in the memorable interview to the Indian newspaper Hindu, commenting on the possibility of New Delhi's joining the SCO. The Russian president said that, initially, the SCO "incorporated four republics of the former Soviet Union, including the Russian Federation, and China". He said: "The main goal of the organisation was the settlement of yet unresolved border questions between China and republics of the former Soviet Union". Now, "actually every acute question" has been settled, he said.

In the course of joint work, members of the SCO have come to the conclusion that the mechanisms established within the organisation "make it possible to resolve also other problems our countries are facing", Vladimir Putin noted. "This is another reason why a sixth member, Uzbekistan, has recently joined in. It has become a co-founder of the organisation", he said. "It is another indication that the organisation is open (for new members)".

The SCO's secretariat is found in Beijing and antiterrorist structure in Tashkent.