Russia doesn't want to see U.S. troops in Central Asia - Lavrov
BUDAPEST. Aug 24 (Interfax) - Russia does not want to see U.S. troops in Central Asia, as their deployment will turn any country into a target for incoming threats, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"As to whether Russia would like to see U.S. troops in Central Asia - no," Lavrov said at a press conference following talks with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.
First of all, Russia and those states have an obligation which requires the consent of all allies to the deployment of foreign forces in any member state of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Lavrov said.
Secondly, "the deployment of U.S. troops that have openly declared the goal of keeping Afghanistan in their crosshairs and bombing it if necessary means instantly turning oneself into a target," he said.
"If you think that any country, either in Central Asia or anywhere else, wants to become a target just for the sake of the fulfillment of any U.S. initiatives, I very much doubt anyone needs that," Lavrov said.
"The same applies to the insistent, stubborn actions of Washington aimed to convince a number of countries in Central Asia and other regions to take in Afghan citizens who used to cooperate with the Americans and NATO member states. They say this is just for two or three months before they take them in, they just need time to issue visas," Lavrov said.
"If the Afghans have been cooperating with the Americans over the years, they must have been fully vetted," he said.
"Why wait for two months to make sure whether a certain person can be given a visa or not?" Lavrov said.
"Besides, if you, Americans, have regulations that require two or three months for a visa issuance process, why don't you respect the interests of the countries where you are trying to shake off the Afghans who used to cooperate with you?" he said.
"As if these countries should not somehow vet those citizens and, in the opinion of the Americans, do not need time to accommodate U.S. needs," Lavrov said.
"No matter the angle, the situation is at odds with the stability of the countries the Americans are trying to get into with their wishes," he said.