Raisi, Erdogan discuss regional, bilateral developments at SCO
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Raisi underlines territorial respect and integrity as he goes over developments in Syria and Caucasus with his Turkish counterpart Erdogan, who is eyeing joining the organization.
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Iranian Pres. Ebrahim Raisi and Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan (MENA Affairs)
As part of the round of discussions that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi held with the heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states during his stay in Samarkand, Raisi and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened privately at the summit to weigh in on the latest regional situations concerning the Caucasus, Syria, and Afghanistan.
Raisi mirrored Iran's opposition to a mandate-style rule in the region, saying, “The principle of our policy in the region is that the fate of the countries should be decided by themselves and their national sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected.”
He further emphasized Iran's friendship and cordial ties to its neighboring countries and friends amid ongoing crises.
In his statement, he voiced Iran's disapproval of any rearrangement regarding the international, geopolitical, and historical borders in the Caucasus region.
In his speech at the summit, Raisi noted, "Pursuing NATO policies in any way poses a threat to different regions. The establishment of peace, stability, and security in the Caucasus region is very important for the Islamic Republic of Iran."
The Iranian President stressed the necessity of "respecting territorial integrity, and national sovereignty and rejecting any change in the recognized borders between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia. The parties should resolve their differences through dialogue and peacefully based on international law."
On his part, Erdogan urged the implementation of the terms of the bilateral deals, referring to the agreements signed during his July visit to Tehran. On Saturday, the Turkish President expressed his country's desire to join the SCO as a member.
The SCO is an economic, political, and security alliance comprising China, Iran, India, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan. SCO Observer countries include Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia, with Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey, and Sri Lanka holding a dialogue partner status.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
