Russian Representatives Establish Contacts With Afghan Authorities In Kabul

Russia's interdepartmental coordination group on Afghanistan has established stable contacts and security cooperation with the Afghan authorities, and is keeping in touch with the military contingents of the United States and Great Britain. Russian defence minister Sergei Ivanov said as much Wednesday answering the question from RIA Novosti question, following the session of the CIS defence ministers council. In his words, the Russian group is already seeking location for the future Russian embassy in Kabul, even if it is temporary. The Afghan authorities have already officially confirmed that they recognise Russia's right to retain its own Soviet-epoch territory of 15 hectares and to all the embassy buildings situated there, the Russian minister noted. Unfortunately, he said, these buildings have been badly damaged and are currently occupied by refugees who cannot be immediately resettled. The Russian group includes officials from the defence, foreign and emergencies ministries.