On December 4, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Natalia Gherman, the newly appointed Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA).

The officials discussed the situation in Central Asia and the UNRCCA priorities under its mandate.

They pointed out the importance of the UNRCCA for strengthening stability and security in the region by means of preventive diplomacy and for promoting regional cooperation on the entire range of issues facing Central Asian states.

They also spoke about the need to build up cooperation between the UNRCCA and respected regional organisations, primarily the CSTO, the CIS and the SCO.

The UNRCCA head also met with State Secretary and Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov.

Russia has high opinion of the UNRCCA activities and is resolved to continue its cooperation with this special political mission of the United Nations.