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Russia to consistently develop regional security system in Central Asia

The focus is on fight against international terrorism and trans-border crime, says Lavrov

Photo ITAR-TASS/ Mikhail Metzel

Photo ITAR-TASS/ Mikhail Metzel

ASTANA, September 12 (Itar-Tass) - Russia will consistently develop the regional security system in Central Asia to counter threats from Afghanistan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

“There are many challenges related to the development of the situation in Afghanistan. We’ll continue developing the regional security system and bilateral relations within the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), the CIS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO),” Lavrov said.

“We believe that the situation in the region has a direct impact on security in Russia and prosperity of over five million compatriots living in Central Asia. We want the Central Asian Five to develop dynamically, without any trouble and feel themselves in security. If the situation is negative, we’ll have to search for ways to resolve the problems of refugees, to fight extremism and react to other challenges,” the minister said.

“Thus, we pay much attention to peace and security in the Central Asian region in close cooperation with our Kazakhstani partners,” Lavrov said.

“We focus on the fight against international terrorism and trans-border crime, illicit drug trafficking, the threats of using information technology and communications to foment inter-ethnic, inter-confessional and social hatred in detriment of safety of an individual, the society and the state,” the Russian minister said, adding, “We seek to exert effort to fight a drug threat from Afghanistan. Our priority is to curb illicit drug trafficking. This will make serious contribution to fighting international terrorism.”

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