Moscow, December 30: Russia and NATO plan to sign a package of agreements next year aimed at developing the legal basis of bilateral cooperation, including that in Afghanistan, Chairman of the State Duma International Affairs Committee said.
Russia should support the Alliance efforts in Afghanistan, Chairman of the State Duma International Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev said.
“Not everyone agrees with that viewpoint. The State Duma members have different views,” Kosachev told Itar-Tass yesterday.
“Moscow criticises NATO’s policy in many ways, but we have no alternative: NATO’s operation will be successful, or each of us will face problems,” he said.
Kosachev said he has a pessimistic view on the improvement of the Afghan situation.
“I am not waiting for significant breakthroughs in 2010,” he said.
Representatives of the NATO member countries, including the alliance’s Secretary General Andres Fogh Rasmussen, many times expressed an interest in cooperation with Russia in the counteraction to the Afghan drug trafficking.
During his recent visit to Russia, Rasmussen suggested Russia to train Afghan drug policemen in its territory, as well as to equip the Afghan National army and supply helicopters.
—Agencies