MOSCOW, November 14 (RIA Novosti)-Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov signed a treaty Monday on allied relations between their two countries.
"In accordance with this treaty, the countries shall build and develop allied relations on a long-term basis," the document said.
The treaty will be effective until the year after either party gives written notification of withdrawal.
A Kremlin source said the treaty laid new, long-term groundwork for bilateral cooperation and was a logical continuation of the 2004 treaty on strategic partnership between Russia and Uzbekistan.
Representatives of the Russian Federal Drug Control Service and Uzbekistan's Interior Ministry signed an agreement on cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and control over precursors.
The agreement provides for an informational exchange to prevent and expose drug-related crimes and for sharing experience in investigative work.
The parties also agreed on coordinating measures against illicit drug trade by organized criminal groups, sharing legal experience in the field and assisting in the training of staff.
The Russian and Uzbek chambers of commerce and industry have also signed a cooperation agreement.
