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Russia’s Defense Ministry concerned by ‘unstable’ Asia-Pacific region

“The hotbeds of tensions are territorial disputes, unsettled border claims and outbreaks of armed confrontation,” Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov ITAR-TASS/Sergei Karpov

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov

© ITAR-TASS/Sergei Karpov

COLOMBO, November 27. /TASS/. Russia’s Defense Ministry is concerned that turbulence in some Asia-Pacific countries could spread to countries bordering Russia, a Russian deputy defense minister said on Thursday.

“We are concerned over the instability in a number of states of the region and the prospect of its 'overflow' to countries adjacent to Russia, primarily, Central Asia,” Anatoly Antonov said, addressing the first meeting of defense chiefs of Southern and Southeast Asia states.

“The hotbeds of tensions are territorial disputes, unsettled border claims and outbreaks of armed confrontation,” he stressed.

Antonov it is impossible to disregard “the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and in particular, the need for its denuclearization and assistance to national reconciliation of the North and the South.”

The official said the major challenges to the security in the Asia Pacific region include international terrorism, drug trafficking and piracy. He noted that “a considerable conflict potential” remains in the region.

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