Medvedev, Pakistan president discuss regional security in Dushanbe

DUSHANBE, September 2 (Itar-Tass) —— The Dushanbe summit between the leaders of Russia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan showed that their views are identical on the security problem in Central Asia.

At a meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari after the four-party summit on Friday Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stated that he is “inspired with a speech in harsh terms” over regional security by his Pakistani counterpart.

The Pakistani president believes that the time for diplomatic speeches passed and it is high time for decisive actions in security. However, the details of his speech were not reported, because the summit was held behind closed doors.

Commenting on Zardari’s speech at a bilateral meeting with Zardari Medvedev said, “I believe that in general it (the speech) reflects probably some dramatic tendency, which has taken shape in regional security.”

Commenting on the four-party summit the Russian president noted that such summits are needed for an open exchange of opinions on the most complicated issues. “So that we could say to each other frankly what we are thinking,” Medvedev elaborated.

He noted that before his meeting with Zardari he had the negotiations with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who also “considers such exchange of opinions very useful.”

Zardari agreed with Medvedev that “the time is high today for frank statements, a little time remained and the world changed.”

Commenting on the results of the four-party summit earlier Medvedev stated that the countries in Central Asia should ensure security in this region, and the assistance of other countries has an important but not decisive significance.

“Our countries, namely Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan will eventually bear responsibility for the events in the region,” the Russian president stressed, noting that he expressed the common position of all summiteers.

“Those partners, who help resolve various tasks in the region today, are certainly very important and much depends from them today,” Medvedev added.

“Therefore, we should ponder over how to improve cooperation between our countries, so that our countries will ensure peace and security in the region,” the Russian leader went on to say.

“Otherwise, much effort that is taken to ensure security can happen to be in vain,” Medvedev warned.

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