Press release following the 4th Meeting of Ministers of Interior and Public Security of SCO Member States

On 18 August 2022, the 4th Meeting of Ministers of Interior and Public Security of SCO Member States (hereinafter the Meeting) was held in Tashkent as part of Uzbekistan’s Presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Taking part in the meeting, chaired by Uzbekistan, were the management and representatives of ministries of the interior and public security of the SCO member states, as well as of permanent SCO bodies. The meeting was also attended by representatives of SCO observer states and international organisations, including Interpol, the Bureau for Coordinating the Fight against Organised Crime and Other Dangerous Types of Crime on the Territory of the CIS Member States (BKBOP) and the CIS ATC.

During the meeting, the heads of the delegations discussed international and regional security as well as further development of cooperation in countering terrorism, extremism and separatism, and the fight against cross-border crime, in an open and friendly atmosphere. They reached a high level of mutual understanding on the need to consolidate the efforts of the SCO member states.

The meeting participants spoke in favour of further stepping up cooperation between the SCO ministries of the interior and public security considering the growing instability and uncertainty on the international stage.

They stressed that the development of cooperation in countering terrorism, extremism and separatism, as well as illicit trafficking of drugs and psychotropic substances, and in maintaining peace, stability and security in the SCO space remained a topical priority.

The ministers unanimously stressed the importance of an open dialogue and practical cooperation in the field of combatting transnational organised crime in accordance with the principles of the Shanghai Spirit.

The parties noted the need to implement the Agreement between the Governments of SCO Member States on Cooperation in Countering Crime (Tashkent, 11 June 2010), as well as to further improve the SCO legislative base in the area of cooperation between the ministries of the interior and public security.

The meeting participants praised the efforts of the Interior Ministry of Uzbekistan in thoroughly preparing and successfully holding the fourth Meeting of Ministers of Interior and Public Security of SCO Member States.

A protocol was signed following the meeting.