Moscow is interested in keeping the situation in Central Asia stable, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said at a meeting with colleagues from the region.
"Russia is interested in maintaining stability in Central Asia. The well-established cooperation of our countries in economic and humanitarian spheres, defense and security, as well as close contacts established through the offices of security councils, law enforcement agencies and special services fully meet this interest," he said.
Patrushev called strengthening of relations with Central Asia an absolute priority for Russia. He reminded that this is reflected in the new version of the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation approved by President Vladimir Putin in March 2023.
"Ensuring sustainable good-neighborly relations with Central Asian states is among Russia's absolute priorities," Patrushev said at a meeting of Secretaries of Security Councils in the Central Asia-Russia format.
Secretaries of the Security Councils of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Russia are meeting in Almaty on Friday.
Earlier meetings in this format were held at the level of heads of state and foreign ministers. The dialogue mechanism was launched at Russia's initiative in 2019. Since then, six ministerial meetings have taken place.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS