DUSHANBE, April 26, Asia-Plus -- Domestic problems of Central Asia’s states should not be used for destabilizing the situation in the region, Russia’s Security Council Secretary, Igor Ivanov, told journalists in Dushanbe on April 26 following the consultative meeting of secretaries of the security council from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Uzbekistan.   

“We will strive for preventing foreign forces from using these problems for destabilization of the situation in the region,” Igor Ivanov said.  

According to him, in the course of the meeting, at which Uzbekistan security council secretary also participated, the sides discussed issues of countering new challenges and threats facing the countries of the region, as well international problems connected with the present situation in the Near East , Iran ’s nuclear program, etc.  

Russian security council secretary pointed to the necessity of combining efforts to fight international terrorism, and cross-border and transnational organized crime.  

On the participation of the Uzbek security council secretary at the meeting, Ivanov noted that now meetings would be held in that format regularly.  

Participants at the meeting also worked out measures to strengthen regional security in Central Asia .  

The meeting participants included secretaries of security council from Tajikistan (Amirqul Azimov), Kyrgyzstan (Miraslav Niyazov), Kazakhstan (Kenzhebulat Abdyrov), Russia (Igor Ivanov), and Uzbekistan (Mukhtar Atayev) as well as Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Nikolai Bardyuzha.  This consultative meeting initiated by the Central Asian states was held behind closed doors.