ID :
10307
Wed, 06/18/2008 - 16:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/10307
The shortlink copeid
UN envoy to discuss Afghanistan's problems in Moscow
MOSCOW, June 18 (Itar-Tass) - Coordination of the international
community's efforts to eliminate the problems plaguing Afghanistan will come into the focus of consultations that the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy Kai Eide is going to have in Moscow Wednesday.
Eide, a Norwegian diplomat, will have talks with the Russian Foreign
Minister, Sergei Lavrov, and his deputies, Alexei Borodavkin and Alexander
Yakovenko.
The sides will exchange opinions on the situation in Afghanistan and
on coordination of the world community's efforts to eradicate the problems
that country stands in the face of, well-informed sources told Itar-Tass.
"Special attention will be given to the problem of drugs production
and terrorism in Afghanistan," a source said.
First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denissov said earlier efficient
resolution of the situation in Afghanistan and elimination of the grave
problems existing there is possible only if the world community makes
coordinated steps guided by the UN.
He cited the UN data suggesting that 93% of all the opium produced
globally comes from Afghanistan.
"The drugs produced there pose a threat not only to Russia or the
countries located in that region," Denissov said, adding that this threat
applies to the entire global community.
He underlined the vital importance of setting up the "belts of
security against drugs", which will help shut off "the ducts of fresh air"
to drugs barons.
"Russia has been giving sizable assistance to Afghanistan since the
downfall of the Taliban regime in December 2001," Denissov said.
"This county has extended 220 million U.S. dollars worth of aid in the
field of defense technologies to the government in Kabul, and we are ready
to train Afghan pilots, law enforcement officials and officers of
anti-drugs departments," he said.
"A total of 37 specialists on fighting with drugs production and
trafficking have already gotten a course of training at the Specialized
International Interdepartmental Center in the town of Domodedovo near
Moscow," Denissov recalled. "This center is working under a joint project
of the Russia-NATO Council, and from now on this kind of activity
/training courses/ will become regular."
"Russian humanitarian aid to Afghanistan has exceeded 30 million U.S. dollars," Denissov said adding that the Russian government airlifted more
than 3,000 tons of wheat flour to Afghanistan at the beginning of the year
when the Afghans had to cope with unusually severe frosts and shortages of
foodstuffs.
"At this moment, we're considering of gratuitous shipment of another
15,000 tons of wheat flour there," he said.
Denissov also said Russia wrote off Afghanistan's sovereign debt of
more than 10 billion U.S. dollars.
"Assistance to Afghanistan's social and economic development is a
priority in our policy towards that country, as Russian companies helped
build many industrial facilities on the Afghan territory," he said.
Denissov added that Russian companies are stepping up their presence
in Afghanistan now.
"We've launched a project of reconstruction of the Naglu hydropower
plant, and a chain of hydropower mini-plants has been erected in various
parts of Afghanistan," he said.
Preparations are underway to begin restoration of the vital Salang
Mountain Range tunnel that links Kabul and Afghanistan's northern
provinces.
community's efforts to eliminate the problems plaguing Afghanistan will come into the focus of consultations that the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy Kai Eide is going to have in Moscow Wednesday.
Eide, a Norwegian diplomat, will have talks with the Russian Foreign
Minister, Sergei Lavrov, and his deputies, Alexei Borodavkin and Alexander
Yakovenko.
The sides will exchange opinions on the situation in Afghanistan and
on coordination of the world community's efforts to eradicate the problems
that country stands in the face of, well-informed sources told Itar-Tass.
"Special attention will be given to the problem of drugs production
and terrorism in Afghanistan," a source said.
First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denissov said earlier efficient
resolution of the situation in Afghanistan and elimination of the grave
problems existing there is possible only if the world community makes
coordinated steps guided by the UN.
He cited the UN data suggesting that 93% of all the opium produced
globally comes from Afghanistan.
"The drugs produced there pose a threat not only to Russia or the
countries located in that region," Denissov said, adding that this threat
applies to the entire global community.
He underlined the vital importance of setting up the "belts of
security against drugs", which will help shut off "the ducts of fresh air"
to drugs barons.
"Russia has been giving sizable assistance to Afghanistan since the
downfall of the Taliban regime in December 2001," Denissov said.
"This county has extended 220 million U.S. dollars worth of aid in the
field of defense technologies to the government in Kabul, and we are ready
to train Afghan pilots, law enforcement officials and officers of
anti-drugs departments," he said.
"A total of 37 specialists on fighting with drugs production and
trafficking have already gotten a course of training at the Specialized
International Interdepartmental Center in the town of Domodedovo near
Moscow," Denissov recalled. "This center is working under a joint project
of the Russia-NATO Council, and from now on this kind of activity
/training courses/ will become regular."
"Russian humanitarian aid to Afghanistan has exceeded 30 million U.S. dollars," Denissov said adding that the Russian government airlifted more
than 3,000 tons of wheat flour to Afghanistan at the beginning of the year
when the Afghans had to cope with unusually severe frosts and shortages of
foodstuffs.
"At this moment, we're considering of gratuitous shipment of another
15,000 tons of wheat flour there," he said.
Denissov also said Russia wrote off Afghanistan's sovereign debt of
more than 10 billion U.S. dollars.
"Assistance to Afghanistan's social and economic development is a
priority in our policy towards that country, as Russian companies helped
build many industrial facilities on the Afghan territory," he said.
Denissov added that Russian companies are stepping up their presence
in Afghanistan now.
"We've launched a project of reconstruction of the Naglu hydropower
plant, and a chain of hydropower mini-plants has been erected in various
parts of Afghanistan," he said.
Preparations are underway to begin restoration of the vital Salang
Mountain Range tunnel that links Kabul and Afghanistan's northern
provinces.
