26 April 2002
U.S., Russia Reaffirm Commitment to Combat Terrorism
(U.S.-Russia Working Group on Afghanistan meets in Moscow April 26)
(880)
The United States and Russia have reaffirmed their commitment "to
continue close cooperation in combating terrorist threats, one
objective of which is the complete elimination of the terrorist
infrastructure in Afghanistan," according to a joint statement issued
April 26 after a meeting in Moscow of the U.S.-Russia Working Group on
Afghanistan.
The two sides said they continue to support the interim government of
Afghanistan and would support the follow-on transitional government to
be decided by the Loya Jirga assembly in June. They emphasized a key
coordinating role played by the United Nations in both the political
settlement and post-conflict restoration in Afghanistan.
In discussions on regional security, the United States reiterated that
it has "no intention of establishing permanent military bases in
Central Asia."
Following is the text of the statement, which includes joint language
on the Caucasus and enhanced cooperation with international and
regional institutions:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release 2002/370
April 26, 2002
STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN
The following is a joint statement by the United States and Russia
issued April 26, 2002 in Moscow at the conclusion of a meeting of the
U.S.-Russia Working Group on Afghanistan.
Begin Text
JOINT PRESS STATEMENT OF THE U.S.-RUSSIA WORKING GROUP ON AFGHANISTAN
The seventh meeting of the U.S.-Russia Working Group on Afghanistan
was held in Moscow on April 26, 2002, co-chaired by Richard Armitage,
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, and V. I. Trubnikov, Russia's First
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The meeting included a detailed exchange of views on the situation in
and around Afghanistan. In this context, the sides reaffirmed their
commitment to continue close cooperation in combating terrorist
threats, one objective of which is the complete elimination of the
terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan. As the June Loya Jirga
approaches, the sides noted that Afghanistan is entering the most
significant political period since the inauguration of the Afghan
Interim Authority (AIA) last December. The co-chairs applauded the
preparations underway for the Loya Jirga, and welcomed the broad
participation from Afghan society in the Loya Jirga. They reaffirmed
the commitment of the United States and Russia to continue to support
the AIA and the transitional government that will follow, and call for
continued implementation of the Bonn Agreement.
The sides emphasized a key UN coordinating role in the political
settlement and the post-conflict restoration of Afghanistan, and the
UN's efforts in mobilizing international aid and support for new
Afghan government structures and the Afghan people. They confirmed the
productive security assistance discussions in Geneva on April 3, and
look forward to reconvening on May 17 in Geneva with the UN, Afghan
authorities, and donors. They also welcomed the establishment of the
UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and support the effective
implementation of the mandate given to it by the UN Security Council.
They agreed to continue close cooperation with the UN and to endorse
its role and efforts in Afghanistan.
The U.S. and Russian delegations also discussed ways of assuring
security in the regions adjoining Afghanistan, particularly in Central
Asia. In this context, the U.S. side reiterated that the United States
has no intention of establishing permanent military bases in Central
Asia. The co-chairs affirmed that U.S.-Russian cooperation with
Central Asia and the Caucasus has developed productively since
September 11. In discussing the problems of the Transcaucasus, the
sides reaffirmed their conviction that a settlement of the
Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-South Ossetian conflicts can be
achieved only by political methods, through existing negotiation
mechanisms based on UN Security Council and OSCE decisions. They
underscored the need to continue efforts to assist the Government of
Georgia in developing its capabilities to counter terrorism within the
framework of the Coalition against Terrorism. The sides also reviewed
the upcoming Central Asia and Caucasus Counterterrorism Conference
which will take place in June.
They agreed that one of the ways to ensure a stable and lasting peace
in Central Asia is to halt the illicit trafficking of narcotics, the
main flow of which comes from Afghanistan. The Working Group
participants welcomed and strongly support the measures taken by the
AIA that are aimed at preventing the cultivation of poppies and the
production of opium. They advocated an increase in international
assistance for these AIA efforts. They agreed on the importance of
continuing the effort to establish counternarcotics "security belts"
around Afghanistan. To that end, the United States and Russia agreed
to lead regional efforts, including in conjunction with the United
Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP), aimed at strengthening border
control and law enforcement cooperation to stop the flow of illicit
opiates from Afghanistan to the region and beyond.
They emphasized the need to intensify efforts to amplify bilateral and
multilateral measures to counter the increasing threat of terrorist
acquisition of nuclear, chemical, and biological material, and the
means to deliver them.
The delegations also examined questions connected with their
cooperation in combating terrorist threats in other regions. They
reaffirmed the need to continue to enhance antiterrorist cooperation
within the UN, G-8, and OSCE, as well as with NATO, the EU, and other
international structures, and bilaterally.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
