Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's greetings to participants in the 5th meeting of the Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan
29 September 2023 12:14
1907-29-09-2023
I cordially welcome the participants in the fifth meeting of the Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan. I would like to express our special gratitude to Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan and all those involved for the excellent organisation of the event and the hospitality they have extended to its participants. Particular words of welcome are for the main guest, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi.
As an open and universal platform, the Moscow format makes it possible for Afghanistan's neighbours and other regional stakeholders to find common ground in their approaches to developing relations with the current Government of Afghanistan. This coordination of positions is due to facilitate the attainment of the main goal, which is that country's smooth incorporation into various areas of the region's life. We appreciate our regional partners' assistance and support their steps to resolve the Afghan issue.
I must also mention the fact that we are concerned about the attempts by certain extra-regional players to become more active with regard to Afghanistan. A full-scale pooling of efforts between the countries in the region and the NATO states is only possible under the condition that the latter fully recognise their responsibility for the lamentable results of their 20-year military presence in Afghanistan, which has culminated in a complete fiasco. The Western countries, which have inflicted irreparable damage on the people of Afghanistan, must shoulder the main burden of post-conflict restoration of that country. In this connection, Washington's blocking of the Afghan banking assets is counterproductive and only aggravates the state of affairs, complicating the already difficult living conditions of ordinary Afghans.
Under any circumstances, we regard the return of the US and NATO military infrastructure to Afghanistan and neighbouring countries as unacceptable, whatever the pretexts for it. We intend to display special vigilance in this matter and call on all our Moscow Format partners to do the same.
We expect that the effort to reconfigure the government system in Afghanistan will be completed successfully and that politicians representing ethnic and religious minorities will be guaranteed an involvement in state administration. We are confident that this is essential to reaching a stable peace in the country and maintaining security in the region as a whole. We hope that Kabul will step up its counterterrorism and anti-drug efforts.
For our part, we will continue to develop multifaceted contacts with Afghanistan. We welcome the active involvement of Tatarstan, along with other regions of our country, in promoting Russian-Afghan relations.
I am confident that the results achieved by the participants in the meeting will help to strengthen security and ensure socioeconomic development of Afghanistan. I wish you successful discussions and all the best.
SERGEY LAVROV
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