Russian, Afghan Leaders Sign Statement on Expanding Cooperation

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, March 13, 2002

Russian, Afghan Leaders Sign Statement on Expanding Cooperation

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Afghan interim government leader, Hamid Karzai, signed a joint statement Tuesday to strengthen their countries' cooperation in political, economic and military fields as well as in fighting against terrorism.

In the statement, Russia confirms its willingness to offer every possible aid to the rebuilding of state structures and the socioeconomic revival in Afghanistan, as the United Nations plays the key coordinating role.

According to the document signed at the end of the Putin-Karzai meeting in the Kremlin, the two nations will promote long-term, mutually beneficial links with a view to implementing priority bilateral, multilateral and regional projects in various spheres.

Both leaders confirmed their resolve to consolidate good relations and cooperation in the political, economic, technological, cultural and other fields.

The two sides will continue bilateral and multilateral cooperation in uprooting international terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking in line with international standards.

During their talks, Putin told Karzai that Russia wants to see an independent, prosperous and friendly Afghanistan, which will continue developing good relations with Russia.

Russia is ready to help Afghanistan rebuild its state, armed forces and economy, Putin said, urging the world community and countries neighboring Afghanistan to support the country's leadership under Karzai in building unified armed forces in the country.

Over 140 enterprises were built in Afghanistan with Soviet aid in 1960s to 1980s, Putin said. He hopes the two countries will strengthen cooperation in this field.

Karzai, thanking Putin for Russia's significant role in forming the new Afghan administration, said that Afghanistan wants to accelerate Russia's participation in its reconstruction and to step up friendly cultural and trade ties with Russia.

Afghanistan and Russia have long been developing bilateral ties, and their further progress will help stabilize the situation in the region, said Karzai, who arrived here Monday for a three-day working visit.

Meanwhile, a Kremlin official said Tuesday that Russia is prepared to contribute to the concerted effort to ensure the socioeconomic rehabilitation of Afghanistan. Moscow is considering Afghanistan's requests for assistance in restoring priority enterprises, he said.

On operations by the international security force deployed in Afghanistan, he said that "they must strictly observe the mandate of the U.N. Security Council and create the conditions for the earliest possible transfer of its functions to the Afghan authorities."

Earlier in the day, Karzai met Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. Their talks produced "basic agreements on the priority aspects of Russian-Afghan cooperation in bilateral and multilateral contexts."

They expressed unanimous opinion that "the revival of a peaceful, independent, united, neutral and prosperous Afghanistan will provide a reliable guarantee that it will no longer pose any threat to regional security and global stability," said the Russian foreign ministry in a news release.

Following their meeting, Ivanov and Karzai signed 17 cooperation memoranda on cooperation between Russian and Afghan ministries, agencies and business circles.

Ivanov said the accords "concern mostly construction and restoration of Afghanistan's infrastructure facilities, oil and gas fields, energy facilities, as well as deliveries of Russian- made agricultural machinery, industrial equipment and various types of the hardware."

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