Kazakhstan\'s Foreign Ministry has issued a statement disputing recent claims by Vyacheslav Kasymov, director of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization\'s (SCO) Regional Antiterrorism Structure, that Kazakhstan harbors terrorist organizations. In a 7 February interview with \"Nezavisimaya gazeta,\" Kasymov said that in Kazakhstan \"there are even lands bought up by firms that belong to the \'bin Ladens.\'\" Noting that Kazakhstan is a party to the 12 UN antiterrorism conventions, the statement dubbed Kasymov\'s claims \"inappropriate.\" It continued, \"[T]hey contradict the spirit and the provisions of documents signed by the leaders of SCO member states. Such statements are absolutely incompatible with the status of director of a structure in this international organization, and they cast a pall on the SCO\'s international authority and stature.\" (Kazinform)