2 0 0 6 ), ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁the ▁European ▁Union ▁( request ed ▁in ▁July ▁ 2 0 0 6 ). ▁On ▁ 4 ▁March ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁Iran ▁requested ▁observer ▁status , ▁followed ▁shortly ▁by ▁Maur it ius . ▁ ▁Pot ential ▁future ▁members ▁My an mar ▁has ▁expressed ▁interest ▁in ▁upgrad ing ▁its ▁status ▁from ▁an ▁observer ▁to ▁a ▁full ▁member ▁of ▁SA AR C . ▁Russia ▁has ▁applied ▁for ▁observer ▁status ▁membership ▁of ▁SA AR C . ▁Turkey ▁applied ▁for ▁observer ▁status ▁membership ▁of ▁SA AR C ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁South ▁Africa ▁has ▁participated ▁in ▁meet ings . ▁ ▁Secret ariat ▁ ▁The ▁SA AR C ▁Secret ariat ▁was ▁established ▁in ▁Kath m and u ▁on ▁ 1 6 ▁January ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁and ▁was ▁inaugur ated ▁by ▁the ▁late ▁King ▁Bir endra ▁Bir ▁B ik ram ▁Shah ▁of ▁Nep al . ▁ ▁Special ized ▁Bod ies ▁The ▁SA AR C ▁Member ▁States ▁have ▁created ▁the ▁following ▁Special ized ▁Bod ies ▁of ▁SA AR C ▁in ▁the ▁Member ▁States ▁which ▁have ▁special ▁mand ates ▁and ▁structures ▁different ▁from ▁the ▁Regional ▁Cent ers . ▁These ▁bodies ▁are ▁managed ▁by ▁their ▁respective ▁G over ning ▁Bo ards ▁composed ▁of ▁represent atives ▁from ▁all ▁the ▁Member ▁States , ▁the ▁representative ▁of ▁H . E . ▁Secretary - General ▁of ▁SA AR C ▁and ▁the ▁Ministry ▁of ▁Foreign / External ▁Affairs ▁of ▁the ▁Host ▁Government . ▁The ▁heads ▁of ▁these ▁Bod ies ▁act ▁as