Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The agreement of the Memorandum testifies to the readiness of the Iranian side, after acquiring membership, to comply with the goals and principles of the SCO, contribute to the development of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation with member states, increase the authority of the SCO in international and regional affairs, as well as further strengthening of the "Shanghai spirit", Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov stressed at a press conference today, answering journalists’ questions, Dunyo news agency reported.

“The memorandum is planned to be signed on the sidelines of the Samarkand summit, which will become the basis for further resolving the issue of granting Iran the status of SCO member state,” Vladimir Norov said. - That is, the Iranian side will have the opportunity to join the organization as a full member already at the summit in 2023, if it fulfills all its obligations.

He said: “I would like to emphasize that the agreements on the admission of Iran to the ranks of the SCO clearly confirm the principle of openness of the organization and the firm intention of the member states to follow it in practice. Iran’s accession expands the zone of "geographical responsibility" of the SCO, opens up new prospects for the development of inter-regional initiatives in the field of interconnection.”