10 Jan 2022 18:47

Russian, Chinese FMs confident peace and accord to return to Kazakhstan

MOSCOW. Jan 10 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi said they are confident that peace and accord will be restored in Kazakhstan.

"Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi expressed confidence that peace and accord will be brought back to Kazakhstan. They also agreed to keep in touch on this issue and on other key international matters," the Russian Foreign Ministry said after the two ministers' phone conversation on Monday.

The situation in Kazakhstan was high on the agenda of the ministers' phone call, the ministry said.

"Both sides reiterated their strong support for the Kazakh leadership's efforts to restore constitutional order in the country," it said.

"The ministers were unanimous in their assessment of the events in Kazakhstan, underscoring concern over external forces' interference, including foreign mercenaries' participation, in those attacks on civilians and law enforcers and in the seizure of administrative buildings and other facilities," the ministry said.

The Russian and Chinese ministers also believe that the steps taken by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev "were timely and proportional to the scope of the threat the country encountered."

"Wang Yi positively assessed the measures taken by the Collective Security Treaty Organization in response to the Kazakh leadership's appeal in order to help normalize the situation in the country. The ministers also noted the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in maintaining security in Eurasia, including the Central Asian region," the ministry said.