SAMARKAND: Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that measures aimed at reducing the number of migrant workers in Russia go against the cou...
SAMARKAND: Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that measures aimed at reducing the number of migrant workers in Russia go against the country’s interests as it is currently facing a labor shortage, emphasizing at the same time that keeping the criminal element in the immigrant community at bay is crucial. He made these remarks during a press conference following his visit to Uzbekistan.
He also mentioned that the next round of Russian-US talks will take place soon.
TASS has gathered the key statements by the foreign minister.
Russia-US talks
Lavrov confirmed that another round of Russian-US talks is expected to take place "soon," without specifying the exact date.
Immigration policy
Lavrov acknowledged the need for immigrant labor in Russia, given the nation’s current workforce shortages. "Measures to reduce the number of immigrant workers in Russia hardly meet the country's interests," he said. However, he stressed the importance of enforcing Russian laws and ensuring immigrants do not commit crimes. He noted that Uzbekistan shares a "full understanding of the need" to minimize violations and reduce the risks of terrorism and crime among migrant communities.
Farewell ceremony for Pope Francis
Lavrov noted that President Vladimir Putin is currently deciding on the composition of the Russian delegation for the funeral of Pope Francis. The names of the delegates will be announced "in the near future."
Situation in Afghanistan
Addressing the situation in Afghanistan, Lavrov criticized Western nations for attempting to reassert their presence in the country after the Taliban's rise to power. "The West has initiated a new format of consultations through the UN Secretariat, called the Doha format," he said. He also warned against the return of NATO military infrastructure to Afghanistan, describing such moves as potentially dangerous: "Such attempts will create a new time bomb, one which may have a short fuse." Lavrov added that the Taliban’s control of Kabul is "a reality that must be faced to pursue a pragmatic policy free from ideology."
Central Asia and Western influence
Lavrov reiterated Russia’s opposition to what he described as the West’s attempts to assert dominance in Central Asia. "We strongly oppose the politicization of cooperation processes and the introduction of ideological elements related to attempts by one or another group of countries to establish dominance in this and other geopolitical areas," he said. He also announced that the Russia-Central Asia summit is scheduled to take place in October, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Dushanbe.
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