Russia interested in developing dialogue with Chile

Russia is interested in the development of a dialogue with Chile on the problem of combating terrorism, illegal drug trafficking, and transnational organized crime, Russian foreign ministry official spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said in an interview with RIA Novosti shortly before the visit by the Chilean president to Russia.

According to him, the visit by the head of the Chilean state Ricardo Lagos to Russia scheduled for October 2nd-6th will be a significant event in the Russian-Chilean relations. Versatile cooperation with Chile is an important direction of the Russian foreign policy in Latin America. Moscow highly appreciates the present-day level of political contacts between the two countries, which contribute to the progressive movement of the entire complex of bilateral relations.

Moscow also positively assesses the constructive nature of Russian-Chilean collaboration on the international scene. "Closeness or coincidence of approaches of Russia and Chile with respect to many world and regional issues create the basis for stepping up cooperation between the two countries at international forums, above all in the UN," Yakovenko pointed out.

Moscow and Santiago attach special importance to strengthening stability at the global and regional levels, preserving the existing system of treaties in the field of arms control and disarmament, the process of non-proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.

Russia and Chile, according Yakovenko, are unanimous in that international terrorism, separatism and religious extremism are a serious threat to security.