Russian media reports say Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday held a meeting with the chiefs of the security and special services of the CIS member nations via video conference.
Participants of this 18th meeting of the heads of security agencies and intelligence services of the CIS countries reportedly included delegations of Armenia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
According to the Kremlin’s official website, Putin stated that West is attempting to provoke conflicts within the CIS area. He was cited as saying that “Western countries are ready to expose anyone, anyone, any country, spark a color revolution and unleash a carnage.”
TASS says Putin called on the special services of CIS countries to fiercely counter any attempted cyberattacks on the critical infrastructure of CIS member states. The Russian president said it’s necessary not only to exchange information between special services, but also to conduct joint operations. Putin reportedly highlighted the need to promote cooperation among the CIS states.
"Of course, it’s necessary to encourage the development of integrated relations within the CIS," he said.
According to the Russian leader, "despite the pressure, blackmail and illegal sanctions by the US and its satellites, the level of trade, production and investment cooperation between Russia and CIS countries is increasing."
The Russian president expressed hope that the results of the meeting "will promote a more productive effort by the special services of the CIS countries, and open up new prospects for multifaceted cooperation."
Turkiye’s Anadolu Agency (AA) reports that Putin said the West is nurturing scenarios of fueling conflicts in the CIS, where there are enough of them that emerged as a result of the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
"It is enough to look at what is happening now between Russia and Ukraine, occurs on the borders of some other CIS countries.
"But the risks of destabilization are still growing, including the risks of destabilization of the entire Asia-Pacific region," he said.
According to Putin, the situation on the CIS borders needs acute attention as common threats are being formed there.
He said Afghanistan remains unstable, highly exposed to terror attacks and extremists may infiltrate CIS countries from Afghanistan.
"It is necessary to promote the development of integration ties within the CIS. Despite pressure, blackmail and illegal sanctions from the United States and its satellites, the indicators of trade turnover, industrial and investment cooperation between Russia and the CIS countries are increasing.
"And it is obvious that our cooperation is a serious resource for the growth of national economies, strengthening their competitiveness and positions in world markets," he said.
Putin urged combined efforts to expand capabilities, allowing better results and use of resources more efficiently to actively develop cooperation in the future — from information exchange to joint special operations and personnel training.
