Igor Ivanov: Moscow Has No Plans For Military Involvement In Afghanistan Peacekeeping Operation

Following the conclusion of a meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov announced that Russia was not planning to become involved militarily in a peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan. Ivanov stressed that Russia would only take part in humanitarian operations under the aegis of the UN. According to the Russian minister, he had held a detailed discussion with Powell about the situation in Afghanistan. Ivanov emphasised that "the international community had entered an important stage in the formation of a provisional administration" in this country. However, he stated that the difficult work on the post-crisis system in Afghanistan had only just begun. Ivanov said that he and Powell were determined that the international community should closely coordinate its actions under the aegis of the UN to prevent Afghanistan from being split by internal divisions and conflicts.