On 27 February, SCO Deputy Secretary-General Nurlan Akkoshkarov, who heads the SCO Observer Mission to the parliamentary election in Tajikistan, met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Zohir Saidzoda.
Zohir Saidzoda thanked the SCO Mission for participating in the monitoring of the election and assured the SCO delegation that the country's foreign ministry would do everything it possibly can to create favourable conditions so that it can easily carry out its duties.
The Deputy Minister noted the organisation's growing authority when it comes to regional affairs and also on the international arena, as well as the dynamics of economic and humanitarian cooperation within the SCO. He emphasised that Tajikistan is interested in comprehensively consolidating the multifaceted collaboration within the SCO and reaffirmed that Tajikistan, the country to chair the SCO in 2020-2021, will wholeheartedly work to hold its jubilee summit and added that substantive preparations are already underway.
In turn, the head of the SCO Mission conveyed greetings from SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov adding that the monitoring of the presidential and parliamentary elections is one of the most important jobs that the SCO has to do. Its 52nd Mission began its operation on 27 February in most of the regions of Tajikistan. A detailed concept for monitoring the parliamentary election had been sent to its participants in advance; the Mission headquarters was set up and started to function.
That very same day, at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, the SCO Secretariat Adviser Vladimir Zakharov delivered a lecture to young foreign affairs employees. He specifically focused on the statutory goals and objectives of the SCO, making comments on its positions on major international problems and its role in ensuring regional peace and security, and he emphasised its new tasks in the field of economic and humanitarian cooperation. Vladimir Zakharov explained the importance of the documents concerning youth affairs adopted at the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO Member States in Qingdao, and spoke about the specific formats of working with young people such as the SCO Model youth conference.
He also briefed his audience on the SCO missions' involvement in international monitoring of the preparations and conduct of parliamentary and presidential elections and referenda in countries of the SCO "family."
Vladimir Zakharov informed his Tajik colleagues about the priorities of the Russian chairmanship in the SCO and spoke about the activities planned for 2020.
Answering questions from young diplomats, he explained the principles of personnel selection for the SCO Secretariat, pointed out the importance of familiarity with the SCO multifaceted cooperation agenda in promoting the state interests of Tajikistan, and highlighted the importance of linguistic and general professional training.