OREANDA-NEWS  Armenia has asked the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to begin the process of joining the association. This was stated by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, TASS reports.

"Yes, we applied to join the SCO. This is in line with our policy of balancing and balancing," the politician said.

Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic stated that Armenia had expressed a desire to become a member of the SCO. "Sharing the fundamental principles of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, namely territorial integrity, non—use of force and inviolability of borders, the Republic of Armenia has expressed its desire to become a member of the SCO," the ministry said in a statement.

After that, Viktor Vodolatsky, First Deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, said he welcomed Armenia's decision and expressed hope that there would be no more anti-Russian actions inside the republic.