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By Kamila Aliyeva

Kyrgyzstan's integration into the EAEU, military issues and further deepening of ties were high on agenda during the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev held in Bishkek on February 28.

Russia is chairing the Eurasian Economic Union in 2017 and will support Kyrgyzstan's integration into this organization, Putin said at the meeting with his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev, RIA Novosti reported.

He noted that the special tools have been created to soften Kyrgyzstan's integration into the Eurasian Economic Union, and allow the country's economy to adapt to the rules of the union.

Atambayev, in turn, noted that the relations between two countries have moved to a higher level after Kyrgyzstan’s joining to the Eurasian Economic Union.

He thanked his Russian counterpart for the support and help provided in this period of transition and adaptation. “I am confident that we will solve all the remaining issues regarding Kyrgyzstan’s full-fledged membership in the Eurasian Economic Union with the help of the fraternal Russia until the end of the year,” Kyrgyz president said.

The Eurasian Economic Union is an international organization for regional economic integration. Its members are Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.

Putin further stressed that the Russian military presence in Central Asia is crucial for regional stability. But Moscow is ready to leave at the first request after it helps to strengthen the Kyrgyzstan army to be capable of maintaining security on its own, he added.

“When Kyrgyzstan decides that it has strengthened its armed forces so that it no longer needs this base, we will pull out immediately,” Putin said. “We did not discuss expanding the Russian military group here. If Kyrgyzstan decides that this is necessary, we will discuss this issue, but you should know that this will entail additional spending for us.”

The Russian military came to Kyrgyzstan at the beginning of the 2000s following an urgent request from the country’s authorities, who faced an international terrorism threat from militants infiltrating the country from Afghanistan.

The main Russian military facility in the country is the Kant Air Base, housing Su-25 ground attack planes and Mi-8 military transport helicopters. The air force at the base is a part of the Collective Rapid Reaction Force, the joint task force of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

Kyrgyzstan and Russia plan to expand cooperation in the defense and military technical spheres, according to a joint statement issued by the two presidents.

The agreement on closer relations in the defense sphere was reached "in the interests of maintaining regional and global stability."

"The heads of state confirmed the importance of further expansion of cooperation in rebuffing terrorism and extremism, various forms of transnational organized crime, in fighting corruption and illegal trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances and weapons, and crimes in respect of cultural values, as well as the necessity to carry out joint measures to ensure information security," the document said.

Apart from that, Putin and Atambayev agreed on cooperation in environment protection and closer cooperation in that area "with participation of the International Atomic Energy Agency and other sectoral international organizations." "The Russian side in the person of the state nuclear corporation Rosatom will continue to help the Kyrgyz side in what concerns reclamation of uranium production facilities," the statement said.

Kyrgyzstan was the last stop of Putin's three-nation tour to Central Asia. He also visited Kazakhstan and Tajikistan on Monday and Tuesday.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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