Turkey to chair 2017 Energy Club of Shanghai Cooperation

The Energy Club of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will be presided over by Turkey the first non-SCO country, in 2017.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey shouldn't feel like the only option is membership to the European Union, highlighting that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a stronger alternative.

"Turkey should be comfortable. Because it has alternatives. That's my point of view," said Erdoğan, while returning from Samarkand.

"If Turkey becomes a part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, it would be relieved. Such a move would probably trigger a positive atmosphere both in terms of economy and global politics," Erdoğan previously said.

Erdoğan's statement was welcomed by the SCO members as a committee member of Russia's Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security Alexei Pushkov took to Twitter on Sunday, tweeting about Erdoğan's words saying:

"Turkey's membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization would be a rational step for Turkey.

"SCO members have the control over the organization, which is different from the situation that EU members are facing," he said.

Turkey may play a key role between the EU and SCO, as almost all of the SCO countries are natural gas and oil rich, analysts indicated.

SCO's leading figure is China, while SCO members consist of China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

India, Afghanistan, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are observer countries, while Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka are the dialogue partners of the organization.