Moscow welcomes UN role in Afghanistan

Moscow considers a UN Security Council resolution adopted on Wednesday "as an important political act, aimed at supporting the transitional administration headed by Hamid Karzai." The Russian Foreign Ministry (MID) Press Department reported on Thursday that the UN Security Council had unanimously voted in favour of adopting resolution no. 1419. It welcomes the successful holding of the all-Afghan assembly Loya Jirga, which elected the head of the transitional administration for 18 months.

Moscow believes that the resolution is aimed at mobilising the efforts of the international community "to help Afghans in all areas of the post-war state system in the country." MID stressed the importance of the system being implemented under "the preservation of political control on the part of the Security Council and the central coordinating role of the UN." The resolution, MID pointed out, directed the transitional administration to further implement the Bonn agreements, including those concerning the strengthening of the central government, the formation of a national army and police force, improving the security situation across the country, and conducting the fight against drugs.