Vladimir Putin meets CSTO leaders on the sidelines of the CIS summit

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, has met with the leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization: Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan; Nursultan Nazarbayev, First President of Kazakhstan; and Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan, in St Petersburg as part of an informal summit of CIS leaders.
According to kremlin.ru, Vladimir Putin invited Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to visit Russia early next year.
“Tajikistan is one of our loyal, reliable, close allies,” Vladimir Putin said during the meeting with Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan.
“We are developing relations very actively in all directions. This also applies to security issues,” the President of the Russian Federation said.
Vladimir Putin said that “in accordance with the agreements, the necessary supplies of weapons and equipment have been made to strengthen Tajikistan’s armed forces.”
Vladimir Putin noted that the 201st military base that was jointly established and deployed on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan “is one of the significant elements of security in the region.”
“I know that you are constantly in contact with our military, you monitor the situation, help our military there, so that they can live in normal conditions. We will continue working in this direction,” the President of the Russian Federation stressed.
Vladimir Putin also touched on the issues of Russian language studies in the Republic of Tajikistan, which “is developing well with the support of the President of Tajikistan.” “Many people wish to learn the Russian language; this is understandable, because there are about one million people from Tajikistan living and working in Russia today on a temporary basis,” reminded Vladimir Putin.
“Both our industry and economy in general, the construction sector are interested in attracting qualified and hardworking people,” the President of the Russian Federation said. “We spoke about the fact learning Russian is the surest way to adapt people, to enable them to work without problems and feel that they belong,” Vladimir Putin stressed.
In his turn, Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, noted the dynamic development of bilateral relations. “Russia remains Tajikistan’s main trade and economic partner,” Emomali Rahmon said.
“Cultural and humanitarian ties are actively developing and we are closely cooperating in the field of security,” noted the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, expressing readiness “to discuss the status and prospects of our relations, as well as international and regional issues focusing on Afghan issues.”