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Putin asks Russian security agencies to broaden horizons

18 July 2012 17:34 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. President Vladimir Putin told Russian special services and security agencies Wednesday they must not limit themselves to domestic affairs but also consider global flash points, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"We must take into account the changing situation, not only along our borders but in the world’s other regions - in the Middle East, in Northern Africa and in the Afghan direction," Putin told a meeting with high-ranking security officials.

The president also urged the officials to take timely action to counter terrorism, and fight corruption and organized crime in Russia.

For instance, the Federal Security Service (FSB) should respond to "attempts to destabilize the social-political situation in the country as a whole and, of course, in the North Caucasus, which is a special concern of ours," Putin said.

Violence is common in the North Caucasus, especially in the republics of Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia, with militants frequently attacking police officers and authorities.

Putin also ordered the FSB to list the protection of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok in September as its priorities.