SCO SECRETARIAT IN BRIEF

The Secretariat is the main permanent executive body of the SCO and fulfills the following duties:
1. Coordinates and provides informational, analytical, legal, organizational and technical support of the activity of the Organization, in conjunction with the SCO RATS formulates proposals aimed at developing cooperation in the SCO framework and external ties of the Organization, oversees the execution of decisions adopted by the SCO institutions.
2. In interaction with Permanent Representatives composes draft documents based on proposals of the member states and with the consent of the Council of National Coordinators circulates them among the member states for further consideration by the SCO institutions, including draft agendas of forthcoming meetings and/or sessions of the SCO institutions, as well as necessary materials; agrees dates and venues of meetings and/or session of the SCO institutions.
Material and documents mentioned in the given paragraph are forwarded to the member states not later than 20 days before the start of meetings and/or sessions of the SCO institutions, if no other date is specified.
3. In interaction with the Council of National Coordinators arranged consultations of experts of the member states on draft documents submitted to meeting and/or sessions of the SCO institutions for their consideration.
4. Provides organizational and technical support of meeting and/or sessions of the SCO institutions in accordance with the relevant regulations and in interaction with the state hosting such meeting.
5. Carries out the duty of a depositary of documents adopted in the SCO framework, certifies and forwards to the member states certified copies of such documents, as well as to the SCO RATS (if the latter concerns it).
Certified copies of documents adopted in the SCO framework are handed out to Permanent Representatives within 7 days after the Secretariat has received original documents.
6 Prepares and publishes Secretariat information catalogues, manages the website of the Secretariat and coordinates its contents with that of the website of the SCO RATS and the SCO Regional Economic Cooperation website. Holds regular briefings for representatives of print and internet media.
7 Carries out preliminary legal and financial assessment of draft treaties and regulations drawn up in the SCO framework.
8 In conjunction with the SCO RATS composes a general plan of the Organization’s activities for the following six months.
9 Has the right to request the member states to provide reference books and other open materials for working needs of the SCO institutions.
10 Ensures protocol support of the Secretary-General’s activity.
11 In interaction with the SCO RATS conducts contacts with states and international organizations with regard to issues of the Organization’s activity, and with the consent of the member states concludes respective documents to that end.
12 With the consent of the Council of National Coordinators and in interaction with he SCO RATS coordinates the Organization’s cooperation with observes and dialogue partners in line with the legal documents of the SCO.
13 Interacts with non-governmental structures in the SCO framework in accordance with the legal documents regulating their activity and the Secretariat Regulations.
14 With the consent of the member states and within budgetary limits recruits experts on the basis of single term contract for conducting a research activity on issues of specific concern to the SCO, as well as organizes workshops and conferences.
15 Arranges and coordinates the activity of the SCO Observer Mission in accordance with the Regulations on SCO Observer Mission in presidential and/or parliamentary elections, as well as referendums.

The Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure

The Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is the permanent body of the SCO RATS based in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Its main tasks and duties are as follows:
1. Maintaining working relations with competent institutions of the member states and international organizations tackling issues of fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism;
2. Assistance in interaction among the member states in preparation and staging of counterterrorism exercises at the request of concerned member states, preparation and conduct of search operations and other activities in the field of fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism;
3. Joint drafting of international legal documents concerning the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism;
4. Gathering and analysis of information coming to the RATS from the member states, formation and filling of RATS data bank;
5. Joint formation of a system of effective response to global challenges and threats;
6. Preparation and holding of scientific conferences and workshops, assistance in sharing experience in the field of fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism.

Director is the chief administrative officer of the RATS Executive Committee. The nominee, a citizen of an SCO member state, is appointed by the Council of Heads of State upon the recommendation of the RATS Council for a period of three years.
The Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure operates in accordance with the SCO Charter, the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, the Agreement among the SCO member states on the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure, as well as documents and decisions adopted in the SCO framework.
Myrzakan U. Subanov was appointed Director of the SCO RATS Executive Committee on 1 January 2007.