Inter-departmental Coordination Group Set Up In Russia In Connection With Anti-terrorist Operation In Afghanistan

In connection with the anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan and in keeping with Russian President Vladimir Putin's instructions, an "inter-departmental coordination group" has been set up in Russia under the aegis of the Defence Ministry, Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said Wednesday addressing the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament. Ivanov said the group includes representatives of all lawenforcement structures, the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry for Emergency Situations. Apart from military issues, the group will address humanitarian problems related to the international anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan. "The humanitarian aspect of the anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan is no less important than the military one," the minister emphasized. In addition, a round-the-clock task force has been established at the Defence Ministry, and a task group has been set up in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe.