Concerted Planning, Political Interaction Best Way to Counter Extremism

Iran has urged member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to use concerted planning and political interaction as the best way to counter the growing threat of extremism and terrorism.

President Hassan Rouhani said at the opening session of the fourteenth summit of the SCO in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, that most of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states are in some way facing the danger of extremism and terrorism.

The Iranian president also mentioned organized planning, bilateral or multilateral intelligence and political cooperation, fighting cultural and economic poverty and support from SCO leaders as the most important factors in combating extremism.

President Rouhani further noted that over the past months, the Islamic Republic has warned that support for terrorist and extremist groups will eventually affect the entire region.

The Iranian president also made a reference to the so-called US-led international coalition formed to battle the ISIL terrorist group, emphasizing that airstrikes alone cannot resolve the issue of terrorism. 

“The idea that only aerial bombardment can solve the scourge of terrorism is naiveté and an effort to evade facing the complexity of the issue,” he said, adding that confronting violence can be successful through the contribution of regional nations and governments.

With respect to sanctions imposed on Iran and Russia by the Western countries, Rouhani stated that sanctions have become a destructive weapon in the hands of Western countries and they can be imposed against any member of the international community, including the SCO countries.

Iran’s President  said the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) seek to strengthen all-out relations with the Islamic Republic.

“Today, all regional countries and members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) are interested in more and better relations with Iran in all fields, including economic ties,” President Rouhani said.

He expressed hope that his visit to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan would serve the interests of the Iranian nation and regional states.

The Iranian president assessed as “very good” his meetings with senior officials attending the 14th summit of the SCO in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, and noted that the sides exchanged views on mutual relations and leading regional and international developments.

Pointing to the imminent opening of the Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan railway, President Rouhani said the project would improve the South-North Corridor, which is a route for the international transport of goods.

Iran and Russia have also emphasized the necessity of promoting bilateral relations in all fields.

President Rouhani said Iran is determined to expand relations with the neighboring states, adding that the political and economic relations between Tehran and Moscow have seen an upward trend over the past year.

The Iranian president stated that Iran and Russia have had good cooperation in the fields of science and technology and the process should be reinforced through further enhancement of relations in engineering and commercial fields as well as export of agricultural products.

Rouhani also called for the facilitation of commercial exchanges between the private sectors of Iran and Russia, urging the Russian side to provide more facilities for the Iranian investors.  

*Photo Credit: Bultan News