Uzbekistan supports a fundamental and uncompromising fight against threats, including terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and transboundary crime, which are proclaimed as a priority of the SCO. An institute of Meetings of the Security Council Secretaries was initiated by Uzbekistan, and the first one was held in Tashkent in 2004. The Meetings of the Heads of the SCO countries Security Councils are coordinating-consultative mechanism for security cooperation in the SCO framework.
It should be noted that these meetings are of a significant role in the study, analysis and evaluation of the situation in security field, the coordination of efforts of the SCO countries to stand together against the challenges and threats to security and stability, the deepening of the political dialogue. Negotiations within them contribute to the development of mutually acceptable approaches in timely response to traditional and new threats, and thereby increase the practical effectiveness of the Organization's activities in the field of peace and sustainable development in the broad space of the SCO.
This work is carried out on the basis of the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, the Concept of Cooperation of the SCO Member States in the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism, the SCO Convention against terrorism, as well as the cooperation program of the SCO member states in the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism for 2016-2018 years, and other documents.
Coordination of efforts of the SCO member states in the field of security is assuming ever greater importance in the background of the prevailing situation in the world today conditioned on the dangerous tendencies of globalization of radical ideologies, intensification of creeping expansion of religious extremism, amplification of international terrorism.
In this regard, the Republic of Uzbekistan gives priority to the progressive development of multilateral cooperation in the framework of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the SCO. This structure, functioning in Tashkent since 2004, has become an effective tool and a key platform for joint efforts and pragmatic cooperation between law enforcement bodies of the SCO countries to ensure stability in the region.
On April 8 this year Tashkent hosted the 28th Meeting of the RATS Council which discussed the results of the Cooperation Program of SCO member states in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism for 2013-2015 and the implementation of other acts. During the meeting it was also announced to conduct a scientific-practical conference on cooperation in combating international terrorism and extremism with the participation of delegations of Member States and observers of the SCO in the IV quarter of 2016.
The fight against transnational drug trafficking is of particular importance in strengthening security in Central Asia. On the basis of the approved plan the work has been carried out to identify and suppress channels of financing terrorist and extremist organizations from drug trafficking.
Currently, it is going an endorsement process of Anti-drug Strategy of the SCO member states in the years 2017-2022 and the Programme of Action for its implementation, as well as the Action Plan for implementation of the Agreement on Cooperation in Combating Crime. A draft concept for combating extremism has been considered on RATS. There is no doubt that the adoption of these documents will greatly improve the legal basis for cooperation between the countries of the Organization in promoting peace and achieving progress in the SCO space.
Taking into consideration of the rapid development of information and communication technologies and their implementation in all areas of government and society within the framework of meetings of the Security Council Secretaries of SCO member states it is regularly discussed issues of preventing the use of ICT for destructive purposes and strengthening international information security. To this end countries of the Organization are developing cooperation programs and concrete measures have been taken.
Thus, the regular dialogue of the representatives of the Security Councils of the SCO member states contribute to further improve and enhance the effectiveness of the SCO in countering modern challenges and threats, strengthening cooperation between them in the area of ensuring peace and tranquillity in the region on the basis of mutual respect of interests, the rule of norms and principles of international law.