Astana (Kazakhstan), May 30 (IANS): Russia has urged Tajikistan to ratify the agreement signed by them in 2012 which allows the existence of a Russian military base in Tajikistan.
The agreement allows Russian military presence in three Tajik cities, namely, Dushanbe, Kulyab and Kurgan Tyube, collectively known as the 201st Military Base. The agreement carries a validity of 30 years, with options for extensions by five years, Xinhua reported.
"We hope that soon it will be ratified," Yury Ushakov, assistant to Russian President Vladimir Putin, told media Wednesday here.
Putin is in Astana to attendi a meeting of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
Ushakov confirmed Tajikistan put forward a number of offers during a meeting between Putin and his Tajik counterpart Emomalii Rahmon in Bishkek Tuesday.
" They will be considered," he said.