The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states underscored the need to maintain the unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability of Syria, stressing that the political settlement to the crisis in Syria has no alternative.

“They confirm the need to preserve the unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability in Syria, and there is no alternative political solution to the crisis, which will allow the Syrian people to determine their own future,” said the final declaration of the organization’s summit held in Uzbekistan’s Tashkent quoting the SCO states.

“They also emphasize the need for early stabilization of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa through a political settlement of the crises in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter and universally recognized norms of international law,” the declaration added.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an international alliance that consists of 6 member states and 5 observers from Eurasia. It was established on 26 April 1996 as Shanghai Five. And of the 6 member states and 5 observers, SCO currently also have 3 dialogue partners and 3 guest attendance entries.