The leaders of countries belonging to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization have issued a statement calling for a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear disputes with Iran, while also announcing their opposition to any foreign intervention in Syrian affairs.
The leaders of China, Russia and Central Asian countries issued a statement after a two-day summit in Beijing, saying: “Any attempts to solve the Iranian problem with force are unacceptable and could lead to unpredictable circumstances.”
The Chinese Prime Minister also said in a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday that China is opposed to the development of nuclear weapons by any Middle Eastern country.
Yet, the SCO leaders have stressed that the nuclear disputes with Iran must be resolved at the negotiation table by diplomatic means.
The SCO statement also referred to the Syrian situation, declaring the group’s opposition to any foreign military intervention into Syria.
This means that China and Russia will veto any Western military efforts to topple the Beshar Assad regime.
The SCO leaders’ statement emphasizes that they are calling for the violence in Syria to end. The Chinese deputy foreign minister said that China and Russia support Kofi Annan’s peace plan for Syria.
Today, Annan will submit his report on developments in Syria to the UN Security Council. Diplomats predict that he will offer new initiatives to save the peace plan.
