RUSSIAN FEDERATION COUNCIL RATIFIES TREATIES WITH TAJIKISTAN AND UZBEKISTAN








MOSCOW, March 14, 2001 /from RIA Novosti correspondent Nikolai Venediktov/ -- The Russian Federation Council (the upper house of parliament) has ratified a Russia-Tajikistan treaty on the status and terms of deployment of the Russian military base on the territory of Tajikistan.


	The treaty signed by the two countries' defence ministers in Moscow on April 16, 1999 regulates the deployment of the Russian military base on Tajik territory.


	Deputy chairman of the Federation Council committee for security and defence Vladimir Kulakov noted that "the putting of this document into force will help strengthen Russia's positions in the strategically important Central Asian region and contribute to consolidation of peace and security there." Today the Federation Council has also ratified a treaty on further expansion of comprehensive cooperation in military and military-technical spheres with Uzbekistan. This framework treaty provides a legal base for joint efforts on a wide range of issues which include the maintenance of regional security, the fight against international terrorism and the implementation of coordinated policy in the material-technical provision of the two countries' armies.