Afghan police to undergo training in Russia

Afghan policemen will undergo training at the Russian Interior Ministry training base with the financial support of the German Interior Ministry. This decision was reached at a meeting between Russian Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov and German Interior Minister Otto Schily as part of the Russian-German intergovernmental negotiations in Yekaterinburg.

The two ministers also agreed to create an investigative group to deal with organised crime. The priority will be put on combating international crime and terrorism.

Mr Gryzlov told journalists that Russia intends to become a member of the joint European security body Europol. He said that all the formalities have basically been arranged and the Russian Interior Ministry is planning to sign the corresponding agreement by the end of the year. Russia's presence in Europol will demonstrate that 'the EU leadership recognises the need to include Russia in the European fight against crime,' he said.