Russia Wants India as Full Member of SCO

Russia hopes that India will soon become a full member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Lavrov spoke Thursday after talks with his Indian counterpart Shri S.M. Krishna, as cited by RIA Novosti.

"Russia supports the resolution of the issue of India's transfer from observer status to full membership in the SCO as soon as possible. We have expounded on this position repeatedly and expect to achieve progress in the issue soon," Lavrov declared.

The SCO - an intergovernmental security body often described by Western media as the "Asian NATO" even though it contains no collective security provisions of the "Article 5" type - is comprised of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Iran, India, Mongolia and Pakistan hold observer status at the Schanghai Cooperation Organization.

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