Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 17 / Trend V. Zhavoronkova/
Russia is sorry about Uzbekistan's withdrawal from the CSTO, but nevertheless the coutry underlines that Tashkent remains Moscow's partner, Interfax reported on Tuesday.
"This is Uzbekistan's souvereign choice. We are sorry, but the deceision is made," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Tasheknt on Tuesday.
Russian official undescored, that Uzbekistan remains Russia's ally and strategic partner.
Uzbekistan has left the Collective Security Treaty Organization once in 1999, when the country did not prolong the contract with the organization. In 2006, Tashkent restored the membership.
After the withdrawal of Uzbekistan, six member states remained in the CSTO: Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.