Putin backs Nazarbayev's initiative to pool efforts of Muslim-populated states in fighting terrorism
ASTANA. Oct 15 (Interfax) - Russia supports Kazakhstan's proposal to pool the efforts of Muslim-populated countries in the struggle against terrorism, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
Putin told reporters about the results of talks at a press conference on the results of the state visit in Kazakhstan.
"Russia and Kazakhstan are closely coordinating approaches to issues on the international agenda. Key regional and global problems were discussed at the talks," Putin said.
He said that he has informed Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev of the main results of the 'Normandy Four' meeting in Paris, as well as the developments in Syria and the Russian operation to suppress terrorist activity there.
"Certainly, we support the Kazakh president's proposal to pool the efforts of all countries, primarily those countries where the population professes Islam in the struggle against terrorism," Putin said.
Following the talks, Nazarbayev said that the situation in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria was discussed at the meeting with Putin.
He called the terrorist threat common for all countries, particularly the states in the Central Asian region.
At the Russian-Kazakh talks in the enlarged format in Astana on Thursday, Nazarbayev said that the situation in Syria is a common threat for all countries, including Central Asian states and in this regard proposed to establish an 'Islam Against Terrorism' forum.
"Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] informed me, we have discussed the current situation. Now there are some speculations over the issues of Shiites and Sunnis, this has nothing in common because what is happening in Syria, this is a common threat for all of us, particularly the Central Asian region," Nazarbayev said.
"We are already aware of the incidents which took place on the border with Turkmenistan and are strongly concerned about Tajikistan," Nazarbayev said.
"In this regard, we are saying that we are putting forward an idea of creating an 'Islam Against Terrorism' forum. If we are supported, this will be the right trend of work for the correct idea about what we are doing," the Kazakh president said.
Kazakhstan and Russia have a common vision on developments in the world and are closely coordinating approaches for resolving problems, Nazarbayev said.
"The exchange of opinions on these issues again confirmed our common view. I am confident that the reached agreements will promote the further strengthening of cooperation between our countries in the whole scope of interaction, in the spirit of friendship and a mutually beneficial partnership," the Kazakh president said.