Afghan conference from the side of Russian foreign minister

The Afghanistan conference in The Hague followed close on the heels of the conference that took place on the 27th of March in Moscow under the aegis of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Russian minister of foreign affaires Lavrov announces. He voiced the opinion that the conference in The Hague also had a specific regional importance. “This aspect was underestimated by our Western counterparts. I find it really opportune now, that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has advanced the initiative to hold a conference in the regional context. In that context the US and many European countries can pursue their policy afterwards.”
Special attention was devoted to support some positive trends appearing in the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. “For visible reasons, cooperation of those two countries with the active support of the world community is essential for the anti-terrorism efforts as well as for the anti-drug traffic efforts”- emphasized Lavrov.
The Russian foreign minister also emphasized the importance of the coming presidential elections in Afghanistan. “The coming elections must be held with vast security, mutual respect of all the multinational Afghan society, but also without outside interference. All those factors together can really stabilize the situation inside the country and prevent the extremists from provoking the anarchy.”
Lavrov supported the idea of Afghan president Hamid Karzai aimed at national reconciliation. According to Lavrov, crucial criteria for participation in national reconciliation are the repudiation of violence, break ing all connections with «Al Qaeda», and the recognition of the Constitution and laws of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
According to Mr. Lavrov, Russia is ready to expand cooperation with NATO countries in Afghanistan, particularly, in the transition of tactical and nontactical supplies through its territory. Meanwhile, Russia has finished the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, in total more than 200 cars with wheat flour were sent to Afghanistan from Russia.