Russia, US to expand mandate of bilateral ad hoc group for Afghanistan

Moscow and Washington are going to expand the mandate of their bilateral ad hoc group for Afghanistan, transforming it into a group for fighting terrorism. Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said this Monday as opening a Moscow meeting of the Council of Foreign and Defence Ministers of the countries on the Collective Security Treaty, namely Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, Tajikistan and Armenia. The bilateral group is an example of efficient cooperation between Russia and the US on the international arena, said Mr Ivanov. President George W. Bush of the US will soon pay a visit to Moscow, and both countries are sparing no effort to make the visit a significant event in the history of development of bilateral relations, according to Igor Ivanov. The visit is expected to bring forth two crucial documents - the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, and a declaration of new strategic relations, recalled the minister.