Pakistan to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will not diminish the role of Russia and China in that organization, while the idea of Iran's accession to the SCO that may follow the settlement of the Iranian nuclear program is getting ever more crucial, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the State Duma on Wednesday.
"I don't think that the admission of these countries to the SCO will dilute or lower the role of Russia and China to any extent," he said. "One should feel no fear to have fundamental, responsible, major, growing partners."
Lavrov believes that on the contrary the focus should be on consolidating the positions of those countries that do not represent the historic West, which has traditionally dominated in world politics, of the countries that rely not on bloc discipline, but on their national
interests, just like Russia."
Besides, "with the settlement of the Iranian nuclear program the question of Teheran's SCO membership will become very crucial, too."
Lavrov stressed Russia's interest in lending dynamics to the SCO activities along all tracks and in enhancing the effectiveness of its anti-terrorist and anti-drug potential."
"The priorities of our foreign policy work next year will be connected with Russia's presidency of the SCO and BRICS," he said. "We shall host the summits of these organizations in Ufa next summer."
Lavrov believes that the role of BRICS in world affairs is getting ever more significant.
"The establishment of a new development bank with an authorized capital of 100 billion dollars and an as big virtual pool of currency reserves is expected to maintain the stability of the international currency and financial system," Lavrov believes. "The importance is growing of coordinated positions by the BRICS countries in the international scene, which was confirmed at the G20 summit in Australia.
In particular, that was seen in discussions of the reform of the international currency and financial system and of issues concerning the political situation in the world."
TASS