Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed the law on ratification of the Minsk Memorandum of Commitments on accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in the final step in the process of ratifying the memorandum document.
The law signed by Lukashenko stipulates “the ratification of the Memorandum of Commitments of the Republic of Belarus towards obtaining the status of a member state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, signed in New Delhi on July 4, 2023,” and the law mandates the Belarusian Cabinet of Ministers to “take the necessary measures to formalize the participation of the Republic of Belarus.” Belarus in the memorandum.
At the beginning of this month, the House of Representatives of the Belarusian Parliament approved Minsk's memorandum of commitments to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The representatives affirmed, “Ratifying the provisions of the memorandum and implementing them meets the interests of our state. Full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will strengthen the foreign policy and economic position of Belarus in the Asian region and at the global level, and will work to achieve a positive balance in Belarus’ relations. The strategic allies, Russia and China, will work to expand the basis of Interaction and constructive cooperation with other member states of the organization, including India.”
The draft law also includes the obligations undertaken by Belarus in order to obtain the status of a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and it must undertake to comply with the objectives and principles of the 2002 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Charter, the provisions of the Agreement on Good Neighborhood, Friendship and Long-Term Cooperation, in addition to a number of other agreements that Adopted by the organization.
Minsk will have to accede to all agreements specified in the annex to the memorandum no later than April 15, 2024. Minsk has already ratified 22 treaties.
The memorandum also specifies the procedures for filling the quota of positions allocated to Belarusian citizens in the permanent bodies of the SCO, as well as the financial aspects of joining. For example, membership will require making a contribution to the organization’s budget on an annual basis, and Minsk’s share in the SCO budget will be 5.8%.
Established in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization includes India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
G7 foreign ministers confirm their support for extending the truce in Gaza
G7 foreign ministers said they support extending the current truce and future truces in Gaza if necessary to increase aid and facilitate the release of all hostages.
In a joint statement, the ministers explained: “Every effort must be made to ensure humanitarian support for civilians, including food, water, fuel and medical supplies. We support the extension of this and future truces as needed to allow for increased assistance and facilitate the release of civilians.”
The truce between Hamas and the Israeli government continues for the fifth day in a row after it was extended for two days under the same conditions, as a new batch of hostages and prisoners were released.
The G7 calls on Hamas to release all prisoners without preconditions
The G7 countries welcomed the humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip, and called on Hamas to release all prisoners and detainees immediately and without any preconditions.
A joint statement by the G7 foreign ministers said: “The G7 foreign ministers, representing Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, the United States, and the High Representative of the European Union, welcome the release of some hostages kidnapped by Hamas and other terrorist organizations on October 7.”
The statement added: "The recent cessation of fighting allowed for an increase in humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The G7 calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages."
The G7 also called on the Ansar Allah movement (Houthis) in Yemen to abandon attacks on civilian ships and to abandon the threat to disrupt maritime trade routes in the Middle East.
The statement said: "While emphasizing the importance of maritime security, we call on all parties not to threaten or interfere in the process of enjoying all navigational rights and freedoms of ships. We call on the Houthis in particular to immediately stop attacks against civilian [ships] and threats against international ships."
“And abandon the disruption of maritime trade routes and commercial ships and release [the cargo ship] Galaxy Leader, which was illegally seized in international waters on November 19,” the group added.