Russia declares 'unacceptable' NATO military presence in neighboring countries
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on March 31 that NATO's military presence in Central Asia would weaken the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in the region and Moscow would not accept this.
"We believe that the presence of US and NATO military infrastructure on the territory of neighboring countries, especially in Central Asia, is unacceptable," said Mr. Lavrov, adding that such arrangements go against the security interests of CSTO countries.
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| Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Photo: Reuters |
Russian Foreign MinisterHe also called for "maximum caution" about the placement of Afghan refugees in countries bordering the country. He also urged countries to consider the "high risks" to their security as well as the region as a whole.
Mr. Lavrov met with Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on March 31, urging the world to cooperate more closely with the Taliban and encourage efforts to have the group's government recognized by the United Nations./.