Russian media reports note that Russia Foreign Minister says unlike the West, Russia, unlike the West, does not consider Central Asia as a region for geopolitical confrontation.
TASS says this is stated in his article published in Rossiyskaya Gazeta on Thursday on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with the states of the region.
“Unlike some Western countries, Russia does not consider the Central Asian region as an arena for geopolitical confrontation in the spirit of the colonial concept of the Great Game,” said top Russian diplomat, “In this regard, we only welcome the growing intra-regional integration, regular consultative meetings of the heads of state of Central Asia.”
The minister also added that Russia's relations with the countries of the region are characterized as harmonious, equal and mutually beneficial, and also represent "a vivid example of how interstate cooperation should be built in the 21st century."
According to Lavrov, Moscow and the countries of Central Asia maintain a mutual attitude "to expand and deepen mutually enriching" cooperation.
The Russian Foreign Minister also stressed the potential for further development of cooperation in the trade, economic, energy, scientific and technical fields, the implementation of each other's transit opportunities.
Lavrov noted that the peoples of Russia and Central Asia are united by "bonds of friendship and trust."
He also said that Russia will contribute to the modernization of the armed forces of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Top Russia diplomat stressed that the presence of the Russian military base in Tajikistan and the Russian air base in Kyrgyzstan’s Kant remains a key factor in providing a unified collective security system and neutralizing terrorist threats in the region, TASS reported.
