DUSHANBE, October 16, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Allied relations and strategic partnership link Russia to Central Asia’s countries, Russia’s Deputy Foreign minister, Grigory Karasin, remarked yesterday at the third regional conference of Russian fellow-countrymen living in Central Asia’s states in Dushanbe.

A two-day conference that opened in Dushanbe yesterday has brought together delegates of organizations of Russian fellow-countrymen from all five Central Asian counties to discuss issues related to protection of rights and legal interests of Russian fellow-countrymen in Central Asia, the position of the Russian language in the region, education of youth and celebration of the 65th anniversary of VE Day.  The World Congress of Russian Fellow-Countrymen that is expected to take place in Moscow on December 1-2 this year is also among major topics of the conference.

Speaking at the conference, Russian official noted that relations between the Russian Federation and the Central Asian countries were developing and Russian companies showed interest in the Central Asian market.

Karasin noted that energy sector was an engine for expansion of cooperation between Russia and the Central Asian countries.  “Joint work in this direction not only promotes strengthening of energy security of the Central Asian states and Russia, it also meets increasing requirements of the world market of energy resources,” he stressed.

According to him, the presence of influential and consolidated Russian community in the Central Asian region meets interests of both the countries of the region and Russia. “It also brings our countries together,” Karasin said.