Dmitry Zlatarev. The US is not trying to persuade Central Asian countries to refuse to cooperate with Russia And to make a choice in favor of the West, said Tuesday Deputy Secretary Tony Blinken.

"We don't want to put them before choosing. And when it comes, for example, of the EurAsEC or on the Customs Union, We are not saying these countries that they can't join, " said Lloyd, a speech at the Washington Institute name of Brookings.

according to his statement, " it would be inconsistent with the fact that We are currently talking to the Russians on the issue of Ukraine, namely that countries must have the opportunity to decide who they want to coordinate their efforts ".

Lloyd claimed that North America would like to welcome the positive attitude of the countries of the region with Russia. However, in his vision, " Russia is taking steps that guide opposite the signal States of the region." The under Secretary was confident that " it forces them to look for alternatives And other possibilities ".

"We hope that someday arrive at the conclusion that the Russian Federation will change their own approach," said Lloyd, expressing his " personal point of view about the fact that the level of concern at the present time extremely high.

The Deputy head of American diplomacy noticed that " for state security of the USA is better if the countries of Central Asia will be an independent And sovereign ", " But they need to be healthy relations with all neighbors, including the Russian Federation ".

sections: Politics