President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon intends to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to discuss the program of modernization of the republic's armed forces.
"Today's meeting, the anniversary date of the CSTO, is a good opportunity to discuss our bilateral issues with you. I wanted to discuss with you today, esteemed Vladimir Vladimirovich, especially the progress of our country's armed forces modernization program and the situation on the Tajik-Afghan border. I'm also ready to exchange views on topical international and regional issues," Rahmon said Monday at a meeting with Putin ahead of the CSTO summit in the Kremlin.
As Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier, a number of bilateral meetings are scheduled in the margins of the summit, in addition to the general program. Leaders of all six CSTO member states are expected to attend the summit. Besides Putin and Rahmon, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan and President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan will attend. CSTO Secretary-General Stanislav Zas will also attend the summit.
Putin had a telephone conversation with Rahmon on May 13; they discussed preparations for a meeting of Collective Security Treaty Organization leaders, and also exchanged views on the situation around Afghanistan.
The CSTO is an international security organization. The Collective Security Treaty was signed on May 15, 1992, in Tashkent.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS