OREANDA-NEWS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the collective West is trying to damage allied relations within the CIS, CSTO, SCO and EAEU in order to strengthen its influence in Central Asia. The Russian diplomat said this following the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CMFA) of the CIS countries, held in Dushanbe, RIA Novosti reports.

“We discussed the situation in Central Asia, including taking into account those attempts in relation to the Central Asian region that are being made by our Western colleagues - the US, the EU, NATO members,” Lavrov said.

At the same time, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry added that the Western sanctions are aimed at destroying ties between Russia and the states of Central Asia.

“When the Americans gather the Central Asian countries at various levels, they directly say that do not dare to continue cooperation with Russia, and in general Russia is already a destroyed country, so bet on us. I quote practically,” the Russian diplomat said.

According to him, Washington's representatives say the same about China, since Beijing does not want to join the anti-Russian sanctions.

Lavrov called the West's position self-confident, impudent and ill-mannered.

On May 13, Lavrov took part in a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CMFA) of the CIS countries, which was held in Dushanbe. It was expected that the parties would discuss issues of international security, as well as strengthening ties in the cultural, humanitarian and scientific fields.

A day earlier, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry held talks with colleagues from Azerbaijan and Armenia, after which a trilateral meeting took place.

Lavrov arrived in Dushanbe on the evening of May 11 after visits to Algeria and Oman.