Russia and Turkmenistan discuss risks coming from Afghanistan - Lavrov

ASHGABAT, January 28. /TASS/. Issues of cooperation between Russia and Turkmenistan on Central Asian problems, in particular on Afghanistan, were discussed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday after the meeting with Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. "From the point of view of international affairs, we discussed work that continues in Ashgabat on preparing the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea," Lavrov said. "We also discussed the situation in Central Asia from the point of view of those risks that come from the territory of Afghanistan," he added. The Russian foreign minister noted that "we have a common position on necessity of political settlement of problems remaining in Afghanistan, in order to make our region peaceful and good-neighborly." Lavrov said they also discussed cooperation between Russia and Turkmenistan in the framework of UN and other international structures. "We have similar positions on most issues, including on initiatives that Russia and Turkmenistan are promoting in the international community," he confirmed. The foreign minister noted initiatives on transit or energy resources and international transport cooperation. Lavrov said that Russia hopes for strengthening positive tendencies in bilateral relations. Read more