Dear Ms. Gherman,
Dear Ms. Hakala,
Dear Ms. Yrjölä,
Dear OSCE Heads of Field Operations in Central Asia,
Colleagues,
I am sincerely grateful to the OSCE Secretariat for the invitation to take part in today's special session on issue of security in Afghanistan, because achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan is one of the main factors of ensuring security in the SCO region and first of all in Central Asia.

The ongoing development of the peace process in Afghanistan is one of the central themes of discussion in our region in view of the continued high level of violence in Afghanistan and the rising tensions in its northern provinces, where the presence of various terrorist and extremist groups is sharply increasing.
As traditional partners of Afghanistan, the SCO member States believe that there is no alternative to resolving the intra-Afghan conflict but through political dialogue and an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, based on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
In that regard, we welcomed the launching of direct intra-Afghan contacts in Doha and we look forward to the responsible withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, ensuring a smooth transition of the situation in the country.
At the same time, we believe that the intra-Afghan negotiation process should take into account the interests of all ethnic groups present in the country.
We call on the fighting parties to refrain from violence and armed clashes, and to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghan territory to threaten the security of any other country, including the SCO countries.
In anticipation of the final withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, one of the inevitable consequences will be an increased role for regional countries in helping to advance the peace process and the reconstruction of the country which is also an Observer of our Organization.

Concrete practical steps by the SCO countries towards Afghanistan will be discussed in the near future, at a meeting of the "SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group" to be held at the level of Foreign Ministers in Dushanbe on 14 July.
In this context, we intend to focus on priority measures to implement the joint "SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group Roadmap for Further Action", adopted on 14 June 2019 in Bishkek, to help Afghanistan emerge as a country free of terrorism, war and drugs, and strengthen regional stability and relations between the SCO member states and Afghanistan.
Issues related to curbing and containing the threats posed by terrorist and extremist groups in the border areas of Afghanistan remain a priority for the SCO.
In that regard, we look forward to continued close cooperation with our Afghan friends through the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.
Moreover, there is a continuing need for further interaction with official in Kabul in terms of implementing practical measures to combat the illegal production and transit of narcotic drugs.
To that end, in the upcoming SCO Summit we are planning to adopt a new work plan to implement the existing SCO anti-drug strategy.
The SCO member States' continued political and diplomatic support for intra-Afghan dialogue has shown promising prospects for finding solutions to the conflict in the country, returning it to the path of peace and national accord.
At the same time, the withdrawal of foreign troops should not lead to a weakening of the international community's efforts to rebuild the economy of Afghanistan.
It is also necessary for the international community to focus its efforts on infrastructure development in Afghanistan, above all the construction of railways along the Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar and Mazar-e-Sharif-Herat routes, which will facilitate the entry of the country into regional and international markets and will become a decisive factor in its economic recovery and development.
In this context, we intend to undertake necessary measures to promote Afghanistan's socio-economic development projects as well as its systematic involvement in trade and economic processes in the SCO region.
In that regard, a joint SCO action plan is currently being drawn up to provide practical assistance for the socio-economic reconstruction of Afghanistan.
We support the central and coordinating role of the United Nations in promoting multilateral cooperation for the stabilization and development of Afghanistan, including its involvement in promising economic projects in the region.
In order to stabilize and develop the country, we call for increased cooperation by all interested states and international organizations under the central coordinating role of the United Nations.
At the same time, we consider it necessary to strengthen our contacts with the relevant UN structures in order to implement the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia, exchange expertise in combating illicit drug trafficking and implement joint infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening regional interconnectedness.
Dear colleagues,
Our Organization is open for a meaningful dialogue on Afghanistan with all leading multilateral agencies in Eurasia, including the OSCE and the European Union.
We are ready to further build on the results of today's discussions in a constructive way.
Thank you for your attention.