Tajikistan an outpost of security in the way of threats from Afghanistan - Russian official
DUSHANBE. April 16 (Interfax) - Tajikistan is strongly committed to its role as a close friend and a strategic partner of Russia, Russian Audit Chamber Chairman Sergei Stepashin told journalists on Tuesday.
"As soon as I return to Moscow, I will inform President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin of the Tajik leadership's obvious and clear position as a close friend and a strategic partner for the Russian Federation," Stepashin said after a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe.
Tajikistan plays a special role within the CIS because it shares the longest border with Afghanistan among other CIS member countries - 1,344 kilometers, he said.
"You know that the situation is alarming there [in Afghanistan]. Tajikistan effectively serves as an outpost of security from the point of view of drug trafficking, terrorism and other issues," Stepashin said.
"I was very pleased to hear from the president [of Tajikistan] that cooperation between our security agencies - the Defense Ministries, counterintelligence services, security services and police - has been very productive," he said.
Stepashin also thanked the Tajik authorities for creating the conditions needed for the professional functioning of Russia's 201st military base deployed in Tajikistan.
The 201st military base is the Russian Land Forces' largest base abroad. It is manned by around 6,000 soldiers.
The joint board of the Russian and Tajik Defense Ministries will meet in the near future to discuss ways to modernize the Tajik Armed Forces with Russia's help, Stepashin said. He declined to give an exact date for this meeting.