Iran sees its regional potential as good chance for SCO - Jalili

TEHERAN, July 30 (Itar-Tass) - Iran considers its potential in theregion a good chance for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili said at a meeting with Tajik Foreign Minister Khamrokhon Zarifi on Wednesday.

"Iran's opportunities for ensuring peace and progress in the region should no be disregarded. Iran's potential should be taken as a good chance for the SCO," he said.

Jalili expressed gratitude to the Tajik government for itsconstructive position in relation to Iran's nuclear program. He stressed importance of deeper bilateral relations taking into account the two countries' historical and cultural common assets.

Last year Teheran that enjoys an observer status in the SCO applied for membership.

"Iran plans to join the SCO and seeks more active cooperation within the framework of this regional organization," the head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry's CIS department, Morteza Saffari Natanzi, said in an interview with Itar-Tass in July.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after a foreignministerial meeting of the SCO member-states last week that Iran cannot become an associated member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

"There is no such status, there is only an observer status. Iran is one of SCO's observers," he said.

Moreover, he stressed that the organization's expansion was not put on the agenda of the meeting.

"We agreed on practical steps that will allow all observers to take part in SCO's activities that evoke their interest," Lavrov said.