The Russian government has approved a bill that ratifies an agreement on Russia\'s military base in Tajikistan. Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said during the session that the base plays a key role in sustaining peace and stability in Central Asia and helps Tajik border guards stationed on the border with Afghanistan. The base\'s support of Tajikistan\'s Armed Forces in case the country is attacked by a foreign nation is hypothetically possible, the minister said. \"The agreement, which was signed on October 16, 2004, comes as a follow-up to the 1999 treaty on the status of the Russian military base in Tajikistan and the conditions for its deployment. The Tajik party has already finalized all internal procedures, while Russia will have to ratify the agreement,\" Ivanov said. (Interfax)