Russia, Bangladesh to step up efforts in anti-terrorist fight

MOSCOW, April 6 (Itar-Tass) - Russia and Bangladesh seek to increase
the efficiency of bilateral cooperation in fight against international
terrorism and extremism, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on
Wednesday after talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Dipu Moni.
"We have decided to make additional steps towards specifying and
raising the efficiency of bilateral cooperation on fight against
international terrorism and extremism," Lavrov stressed. "We have agreed
to strengthen the mechanism of such cooperation," the top Russian diplomat
added.
"We also discussed with my Bangladeshi colleague a lot of issues that
concern international matters and the regional agenda, as well as our
bilateral relations," the Russian foreign minister said.
"We stated very positive dynamics in bilateral relations, both as
concerns the development of a political dialogue and from the point of
view of determining prospect for trade, economic and investment
cooperation, including the implementation of some major projects," Lavrov
added.
"Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between our countries, and we discussed plans of
contacts at different levels that will be aimed at giving an additional
impetus to the strengthening of traditionally friendly relations between
Russia and Bangladesh," Lavrov emphasized.
"Speaking about bilateral cooperation, we paid particular attention to
such spheres as power industry, the oil and gas sector, agriculture as
well as a further updating of the contractual legal framework," Lavrov
said.
Work continues on several documents, including an agreement on
cooperation in the construction of a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.
"The text of the agreement was initialled last February. We will work to
prepare it for the signing," he added.
Focusing on international agenda issues, he said the two countries
have "similar stances on main problems of the present-day world". "This
concerns a need to strictly respect international law and strengthen the
central role of the United Nations in the settlement of international and
regional problems, the settlement of conflicts by peaceful and political
means," Lavrov added.
He said the Russian side had given high marks "to a constructive role
that Bangladesh plays in the deepening of integration processes in South
Asia, in the settlement of emerging on the sub-continent problems in the
spirit of good neighbourly relations and solidarity".
"We believe these approaches are in demand in all regions of the
world, particularly taking into consideration the topicality of the task
to stabilize as soon as possible the situation in the Middle East and in
North Africa," the Russian foreign minister stated.