DUSHANBE. June 6 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a joint press conference with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin that they attached particular significance to the situation in Afghanistan at their negotiations.
"We attached special significance to the situation in Afghanistan. We've regularly had close and candid consultations. We work together on international platforms, [including] the Moscow format of consultations on Afghanistan, the CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization], and the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization]," Lavrov said.
The parties noted that they have identical approaches toward most issues, he said.
"This also includes the need to set up an ethnically and politically inclusive government and oppose the threats of terrorism, illegal migration, and drug trafficking emanating from Afghanistan. In this sense, steps toward implementing the decisions of the Central Asia+Russia summit, which took place in Astana in the fall of 2022, would be of great significance. We're finalizing our work on a plan for implementing these agreements," Lavrov said.
He thanked Tajikistan for providing favorable conditions for the 201st Russian military base stationed in that country, which is performing its functions together with the Tajik military.
"Exercises and maneuvers have been conducted, including in the interests of not only Tajikistan but also all CSTO allies. We'll keep on combating terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking. We value our interaction and positions we assume on the international arena. They are based precisely on allied principles. This is exactly how Tajikistan acts on international platforms when our ill-wishers try to justify their actions for preparing a war against Russia for many years using the racist regime they nurtured in Kiev," he said.
He invited his Tajik counterpart to pay a visit to Russia.
"We have several important agreements in the pipeline, ready for signing. I hope we'll be able to sign them," he said.