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Putin says all CIS countries possible targets of terrorist attacks

The Russian leader believes that the influence of 'external forces' is a major threat to security

MOSCOW, April 5. /TASS/. The blast in St. Petersburg’s metro confirms that all countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are potential targets of terrorist attacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

"We see that unfortunately, the situation is not improving. The recent tragic events in St. Petersburg are the best confirmation of this. People died in the terrorist attack and many were injured," Putin said at the meeting with heads of the CIS security agencies.

"We know that each our country, practically each, is a possible and potential target of terrorist attacks. There are also many other threats for our countries," the president said.

Earlier in the day, Putin sent a message of greetings to the participants in the XIV session of the Meeting of the heads of security agencies and intelligence services of the CIS member-states on intelligence activity issues. Putin pointed to the need for close coordination of special services’ activities for effective fight against international terrorism and extremism.

The president recalled that an agreement on the basic principles of cooperation between the intelligence services of the CIS member-countries had been signed 25 years ago.

"Since then, your partnership has become stable and fruitful confirming de facto its relevance and importance," he said.

CIS main threats 

The main security threats for the CIS member-countries are organized crime, drug trafficking along with corruption and external forces’ influence on the internal political situation, Vladimir Putin has stressed.

"There are a lot of other threats for our countries, including organized crime and drug trafficking. These also include corruption and the impact of the external forces, which are trying to influence the development of the internal political situations in our countries one way or another," Putin noted. 

"You are facing complex and multifaceted tasks. I am happy to note that cooperation has been established and is developing successfully," the Russian leader added. He expressed the confidence that the heads of the CIS member-countries’ special services realize the significance of such cooperation and will continue to develop it in the future.

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) consists of Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Ukraine and Turkmenistan are the associate states.