Sco urges dialogue

Beijing - Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Muratbek Sansyzbayevich Imanaliev said on Friday that he hoped countries in the Middle East could solve their domestic problems through political dialogue and negotiation.

He called for constructive efforts from the international community to enhance the region's peace and stability.

Gong Shaopeng, a professor with China Foreign Affairs University, said Imanaliev's statement was mainly a reaction to the situation in Libya.

He said SCO hoped the Arab League and other relative parties could help facilitate a dialogue between the incumbent Libyan government and the opposition.

Zhang Xiaodong, a professor with China Academy of Social Sciences, said that a country's problem should be tackled by its internal mechanisms.

He said Imanaliev's statement advised the international community to respect each country's domestic conditions and offer constructive assistance rather than military intervention.

China Daily

(China Daily 03/05/2011 page8)