Упрощенная HTML-версия
Author : Sergey Lavrov
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Over the past quarter of a century, the Central Asian
countries have become full participants in international
life. Russia has established allied ties or strategic part-
nership relations with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajik-
istan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Today, we have
a solid legal framework: over 900 bilateral treaties and
intergovernmental agreements. It is hard to overesti-
mate the role of a regular trust-based dialogue at the
top level in our joint efforts.
We note with satisfaction that our countries' approaches toward the main issues on the regional and
global agenda are identical or similar.
Russia and the Central Asian states have deeply structured trade and economic ties. More than 7,500
Russian companies or joint ventures work effectively in the region. We take a positive view of the
current level of interregional cooperation.
Cultural exchanges are steadily advancing. Over 150,000 Central Asian citizens are studying at Russ-
ian colleges and universities, including 46,000 in state subsidy programs.
We look forward with a positive attitude. We hope that our relations will deepen further as a result
of Russian President V.V. Putin's visits to Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in late February,
timed to coincide with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of our diplo-
matic relations.
Russia has always respected the choice made by the peoples of former Soviet republics in favor of
sovereignty and an independent path of development.
Russia remains an important participant in international efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Cen-
tral Asian states in need. In 2013-2016, our country provided $65 million to the UN World Food
Program fund for Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Q: What is the role and place of the Central Asian countries in developing and consolidating inter-
state cooperation in the CIS format at the present stage?
A: We appreciate the Central Asian states' contribution to making the Commonwealth more effec-
tive. The countries of the region have held CIS chairmanship, fostering cooperation within its frame-
work.
We note with satisfaction that the Central Asian states are unanimous about the need to preserve
the CIS as an influential international organization.
The main security threat in the Central Asian region comes from the territory of Afghanistan. What
is especially disturbing is ISIS's attempts to gain a foothold in northern Iran and to expand its ranks
with militants from other terrorist groups. Last August, a suicide bomber linked to ISIS carried out
a terrorist attack against the Chinese diplomatic mission in Bishkek.
http://interaffairs.ru
The 25th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations With the Central
Asian Countries