SOCHI. June 4 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia will change the format of its presence on the borders of Tajikistan, Kremlin aide Sergei Prikhodko told the press on Friday following talks between President Vladimir Putin and Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov.
"Under a mutual understanding, an operational group of Russian troops will be established, which together with Tajik colleagues will resist drug trafficking, prevent the possible infiltration of militants, and carry out other tasks agreed upon with our Tajik partners," he said.
"Efforts to transfer border sections currently guarded by Russian troops to the Tajik side will continue according to plan," he said.
Prikhodko said that Rakhmonov asked Putin "to prolong to the end of 2006 the deadline set earlier for transferring control over border sections from Russian to Tajik border guards."