The flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran raised at the SCO RATS Executive Committee

A formal ceremony of raising the state flag of the new member state of the Organization, the Islamic Republic of Iran, was held at the headquarters of the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tashkent on July 4, 2023.

The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the SCO member states, observers and dialogue partners, permanent representatives of the SCO member states in the SCO RATS, and representatives of the media.

Opening the ceremony, Director of the Executive Committee Ruslan Mirzaev noted: “We have just witnessed the leaders of the SCO member states take the historic decision to accept the Islamic Republic of Iran as a full member of the Organization during a video conference. From now on, the state flags of nine states united by the “Shanghai spirit” will fly around the emerald-blue flag of the SCO. I call on the SCO member states to continue and develop the good tradition of solidarity and mutual trust, and jointly strengthen the role of the Organization in the international and regional affairs.”

In his address, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bobur Usmanov emphasized that the formal ceremony of raising the flag of a new SCO member state was intended to show everyone that the countries of the Organization are enthusiastically entering a new stage of its development. “Guided by the Charter and the Treaty on Long-term Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation, the SCO countries are steadily following the “Shanghai spirit” path based on mutual trust, equality, consultations, respect for the diversity of civilizations and cultures, as well as the desire for joint development,” he said.