Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ajith P. Perera represented Sri Lanka at the High Level Conference of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on ‘Security and Stability in the Region of SCO’ on 4 June 2015 in Moscow. The High Level Conference was organized by the Russian Federation that holds the presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation established in 2001, has emerged as an important regional organisation providing a useful platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation in maintaining peace, security and stability in the region. In addition to Russia and China, the Central Asian nations Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are its members. Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are observers. Sri Lanka has been a dialogue partner since 2009 with Belarus and Turkey.
Addressing the High Level Conference, Deputy Minister Perera noted that although not contiguous in territory with the SCO Member States, Sri Lanka had from time immemorial, enjoyed strong historical, cultural and economic ties with many of the countries that had joined the SCO. The Deputy Minister highlighted that Sri Lanka had followed with keen interest the growth and development of the Organisation, and recognises the need to subscribe to its main goals and principles especially in the context of new security challenges that face the world, including illegal migration, human trafficking, drug trafficking, trans-national organised crime and cyber-terrorism, that constitute serious threats to regional and global security. The Deputy Minister underscored that Sri Lanka had recently become a victim of drug trafficking, with the country being used by drug syndicates as a destination and transit point and that in this regard, the law enforcement authorities in Sri Lanka are redoubling their efforts to combat this menace. The need for more concerted action with regional and international support, to which the Government was fully committed was highlighted in his address and the Deputy Minister concluded that Sri Lanka believes that the SCO could play a vital role in successfully tackling these new threats.
Deputy Minister Perera attended an official lunch for Heads of Delegation participating at the High Level Conference, hosted by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on 4 June 2015 and met his counterpart, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov as well where he briefed on the latest developments in Sri Lanka, including the recent constitutional amendments and measures taken towards achieving national reconciliation. Both parties noted with satisfaction, the excellent bilateral relations that exist between Sri Lanka and the Russian Federation and agreed to work towards expanding the economic partnership between the two countries, for which there is tremendous scope. There was agreement that the time is opportune for the exchange of high level visits between the two countries. The Russian side expressed its support with regard to Sri Lanka’s desire to play a bigger role in the SCO by becoming an Observer of the organisation from its current position as a Dialogue Partner.
At a meeting Deputy Minister Perera had with the representatives of the Sri Lankan community in Moscow at the Embassy of Sri Lanka, useful suggestions were put forward by community representatives, particularly with regard to the expansion of the economic dimension of the relations. Deputy Minister Perera emphasized the importance of enhancing people-to-people contacts between the two countries in his interaction with the Sri Lankan community representatives.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Moscow
6th June 2015
Statement of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs at the SCO follows below:-
Statement by Hon. Ajith P. Perera, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, at the High Level Conference of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on ‘Security and Stability in the Region of SCO’
4th June 2015, Moscow
His Excellency Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Secretary General Mr. Dmitry Mezentsev,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honoured to participate in this High Level Conference on ‘Security and Stability in the Region of SCO’ on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka. I take this opportunity to thank the Russian Federation for the excellent arrangements in organising this event.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will be fifteen years old next year. Since its inception in 2001, the SCO has emerged as an important regional organisation providing a useful platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation in maintaining peace, security and stability in the region. It has also enabled multifaceted cooperation for Member States on a range of fields, including politics, economics, science and technology, education, energy, transportation, and tourism.
Today, more than ever, it is imperative for the international community to meet global and regional challenges through concerted action. The SCO endeavours to play such a role in securing peace and security and sustainable development, combating terrorism and trans-national organised crime, and advancing regional cooperation through mutual trust. Such action would guarantee peace and tranquility in a vast area of the globe covering Europe and Asia.
Though not contiguous in territory with the SCO Member States, Sri Lanka has from time immemorial enjoyed strong historical, cultural and economic ties with many of the Member States, Observers and Dialogue Partners of the SCO. We have followed with keen interest the growth and development of the Organisation, while recognising and subscribing to its main goals, principles and actions.
We have continued our cooperation with the Member States of the SCO, particularly with a view to strengthening peace and security, and in combating terrorism in all its manifestations, while sharing our considerable experience and expertise in the latter. Having been a victim of terrorism for almost three decades, Sri Lanka was fortunate enough to be able to eliminate the scourge from its soil through robust and concerted action. The many manifestations of terrorism, links among terrorist groups, and terrorist financing remain grave challenges to regional and global security and stability. In this regard, we particularly welcome the work of the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS).
New security challenges that we face today, including illegal migration, human trafficking, drug trafficking, trans-national organised crime and cyber-terrorism, constitute serious threats to regional and global security. Sri Lanka has recently become a victim of drug trafficking, with the country being used by drug syndicates as a destination as well as a transit point. Our law enforcement authorities are redoubling their efforts to combat this menace. But more concerted action with regional and international support is needed towards which the Government is fully committed. We believe that the SCO can play a vital role in successfully tackling these new threats.
Distinguished Delegates,
Sri Lanka is pleased to see development and economic cooperation remain a priority on the SCO agenda. This will greatly contribute towards stimulating socio-economic prosperity in the region. As agreed by the Member States, there is much potential for expanding practical cooperation in investment, finance and banking, science and technology, innovation, energy and customs, as well as in agriculture, information technology, transport, logistics and telecommunications.
In this backdrop, Sri Lanka welcomes the convening of this High Level Conference which has provided us with a timely opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from one another in the region in cooperating to meet current challenges. Sri Lanka firmly believes that the only way to resolve common threats is through cooperation and collective action of all nations, including those of us in the SCO region.
Sri Lanka, as a Dialogue Partner, is happy to maintain its productive and cordial engagement with the SCO. Having applied for Observer status in the SCO which is currently under consideration, Sri Lanka remains ready to play a more active role in the Organization in the future. In this regard, we welcome the SCO exploring greater avenues for cooperation with Observers and Dialogue Partners.
In conclusion, I take this opportunity to thank the Russian Federation for its successful steering of the SCO under its Presidency. I also wish the Membership all success in taking forward the mandate of the SCO, including the convening of the next Meeting of the Council of Heads of State in the Russian City of Ufa on 9 July this year.
Thank you
