Afghan Foreign Minister to discuss in Moscow situation in Afghanistan and bilateral cooperation

At the invitation of Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov, his Afghan counterpart Abdullah Abdullah arrives on a short visit in Moscow on Thursday.

RIA Novosti was told in the press and information department of the Russian foreign ministry that the sides are expected to discuss a wide range of issues pertaining to the current situation in Afghanistan and, in particular, the implementation, under the UN aegis, of the programme of the country's state and economic development. The foreign ministers will also touch upon prospects of international counter-terror operation and bilateral cooperation.

Moscow believes, official representative of the Russian foreign ministry Alexander Yakovenko pointed out in an interview with RIA Novosti, that the transitional administration in Afghanistan, with the help of the world community, "will create the necessary prerequisites for developing the economy and the social sphere, forming the national armed forces and law-enforcement bodies, and establishing full control of the central power over the country." Moscow also proceeds from the assumption that the administration headed by Hamid Karzai "will prepare the necessary conditions for the holding of general elections within the scheduled time-limit and approving the constitution of Afghanistan.

The transitional administration headed by Hamid Karzai was formed in June at the "transitional" Loya Jirgah for the period of no more than 18 months in accordance with the 2001 Bonn agreements on Afghanistan.