MOSCOW (Sputnik) Moscow will maintain its support ofTehrans aspirations tobecome a full-fledged member ofthe Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russian President Vladimir Putin said inan interview.
"We are also interested instrengthening our partnership withTehran inregional affairs. We consider it an important factor ofmaintaining stability and security acrossa large territory fromCentral Asia and the Caspian region tothe Middle East. We will continue tosupport Iran's pursuit offull SCO membership," Putin told the AZERTAC news agency.
SCO currently comprises Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan withIndia and Pakistan set tobe acceded by2017.
Since 2008, Russia has been advocating the idea ofIran's SCO membership, butthe process had been complicated bythe sanctions regime againstTehran, which has been lifted recently.
By Sputnik
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