Russia will continue to assist Dushanbe in the modernization of the armed forces of Tajikistan, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is in Dushanbe on a working trip, RIA Novosti reported.
"We talked about the implementation of agreements in the field of military, military-technical cooperation, including the implementation of the program for the modernization of the armed forces of Tajikistan. We will continue to provide appropriate assistance to Dushanbe. All planned volumes will be implemented," Lavrov said after talks with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin.
The minister added that Russia is grateful to Tajikistan for creating conditions for the operation of the 201st Russian military base: in order for it to fulfill all its tasks, exercises and maneuvers are being held together with the Tajik military in the interests of not only Tajikistan, but also all CSTO countries.
"We will continue to fight terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking," Lavrov added, stressing that the parties paid special attention during the talks to the situation in Afghanistan.
The Russian minister added that Moscow and Dushanbe regularly hold close confidential consultations on Afghanistan, and the approaches of the parties coincide, in particular, on the need to create an inclusive government in Kabul, as well as on the need to counter the threats of terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking emanating from the territory of Afghanistan.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
June 6, 2023