MOSCOW. April 29 (Interfax-AVN) - Making Central Asia a more stable region remains on the list of the Shanghai Cooperation organization's priorities, says a joint communique, released following a meeting of the SCO's defense ministers in Moscow on Wednesday.
"Terrorism, separatism and extremism pose a serious threat to regional security. The growing production of drugs in Afghanistan has a negative impact on the situation in this region," the communique says.
"Ties between the defense ministries are being deepened in compliance with the fundamental principle of the SCO's openness and are not being targeted against any state or international organization," it says.
"This cooperation aims to strengthen peace and trust in military affairs, to consolidate stability, security and peace in the region, and to perfect counter-terrorist capabilities," the defense ministers said.
The next meeting of the CSO defense ministers will be held in 2010 in the country that will hold the rotating presidency of the organization, according to the communique.