U.S. efforts to build closer ties to this energy-rich former Soviet republic are not meant to undermine Russian influence in Central Asia, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday.
"We don''t see any of this as a zero-sum game," she told reporters flying with her to the Kazakh capital from India. U.S. gains need not mean Russian losses, she said.
"First of all, Kazakhstan is an independent country. It can have friendships with whomever it wishes," she said. "That is, I think, perfectly acceptable in the 21st century, so we don''t see and don''t accept any notion of a special sphere of influence" for Russia in this region.
Later, at a news conference with Foreign Minister Marat Tazhin, Rice said no one should question Kazakhstan''s desire to have good relations with all countries in its region. "This is not some kind of contest for the affection of Kazakhstan," Rice said.
Tazhin said his country''s relationship with the United States was "stable" and had "strategic character." Kazakh ties with Russia, he said, are "excellent" and "politically correct." Asked by a reporter whether he considered his country to be in a Russian "sphere of influence," Tazhin said no and that he believed such a question was of interest mainly to academics and to journalists.
Green and resilient urbanization key for quality growth in Tajikistan, says ADB
President Emomali Rahmon meets with Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin
President Emomali Rahmon meets with Pontiff
Only twenty-eight acquittals passed in Tajikistan over the past five years
Central Asia’s nations urged to take the lead in fostering regional free trade
Germany charges five Tajiks with terrorism
15 Tajik women and their 32 children returned back to Tajikistan yesterday
Tajik leader meets with FAO director-general in Rome to discuss cooperation
Islamic banking and finance is emerging in CIS member nations
Emomali Rahmon holds meeting with Tajiks living in Italy
All news
Авторизуйтесь, пожалуйста