Putin to meet with Turkmen, Azerbaijani, Iranian Pres. in Turkmenistan
The Kremlin announced on Monday that President Vladimir Putin would meet with his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Wednesday.
During his visit to Ashgabat, Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with the presidents of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Iran, according to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov.
Putin will attend the Caspian Summit in Turkmenistan on June 29. The Russian president intends to meet with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the former president of Central Asia, who will turn 65 during the summit. Putin intends to meet with Turkmen President Sedar Berdimuhamedow as well.
"There will be a brief conversation with him, after which participation in the sixth Caspian Summit is planned. And after its completion, our president will hold two bilateral meetings with President of Azerbaijan [Ilham] Aliyev and President of Iran [Ebrahim] Raisi," Ushakov said.
Kremlin on Argentina’s Desire to Join BRICS: Moscow Supports Organization’s Expansion
When asked about Argentina's initiative to join the BRICS, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said on Monday that Moscow views the organization's expansion positively but recognizes that it must be carefully evaluated.
"You know, we are in general positive about the issue of a possible expansion of this association, although we understand that this problem needs to be approached very, very carefully, and therefore we propose at the beginning to determine the procedures and requirements for possible candidates for joining the BRICS," Ushakov told reporters.
Russia says Taliban may be removed from UN Security Council sanctions list
According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, Russia does not rule out the Taliban (under UN sanctions for terrorism) being removed from the UN Security Council sanctions list under certain conditions, including the formation of a balanced government and an intensified fight against terrorism.
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"We are encouraging the new Afghan authorities to form a politically balanced government, we are encouraging them to intensify their actions to counter the terrorist threat, we are, certainly, paying more attention to ensuring human rights. If there is progress in these areas, then a situation may arise that will lead to the exclusion of the Taliban movement from the UN Security Council sanctions list, so this will be the basis for the official recognition of the new government in Afghanistan," Ushakov told reporters.
According to a Kremlin aide, Moscow is in constant contact with the Taliban leadership to encourage the new Afghan authorities to meet the conditions.
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