Afghan military transits: Russo-German talks make headway

Russian-German military transit consultations are making good progress, points out Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs press and information department.

The ministry hosted consultations, May 13 into today, to draft a bilateral intergovernmental agreement for military personnel and equipment dispatches to Afghanistan via Russia for international security promotion.

The consultations implemented summit understandings of Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Germany's Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. They proceeded from UN Security Council resolution No. 1386. It called on all countries to render all necessary assistance to security forces in Afghanistan, land and air transits included.

Germany thanks Russia for its goodwill to debate practical arrangements for air and rail transits. A protocol appended to the upcoming agreement will stipulate related practical patterns.

Berlin will host the next consultation round, June.