Russia Ready To Resume Military Aid To Afghanistan

THE STANS

"Afghanistan has regained its position as the world's top drug producer since U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban in 2001. Illegal drug production and trade is the only source of income for many in the war-torn southwest Asian nation, and is a major source of financing for Islamist militants."

by Staff Writers
Moscow (RIA Novosti) Mar 06, 2007
Russia is willing to discuss the resumption of military aid to Afghanistan during the upcoming visit of the country's defense minister to Moscow, a Russian diplomat said Monday. "In the light of increasing Taliban and Al-Qaeda activities, President Karzai and the Afghan government have asked Russia to resume supplies of military equipment [to Afghanistan]," said Alexander Maryasov, a department head at the Foreign Ministry.

In December 2002, Russia's Defense Ministry signed a contract with Afghanistan to provide military-technical assistance to the Central Asian state with deliveries of motor vehicles, fuel and lubricants, communication equipment, topographic maps, truck-mounted repair workshops and automobile and armor equipment spare parts.

However, deliveries of Russian weaponry to Afghanistan were suspended in 2005 allegedly in order to avoid "the duplication" of U.S. aid to the country, which that year totaled over $929 million, more than 80% of which was earmarked for the military and police.

"In 2002-2005, our [Russia's] military-technical assistance to Afghanistan exceeded $200 million," the Russian diplomat said.

"We have delivered airport maintenance equipment, a missile defense system to protect the Kabul airport, communication equipment, trucks, repair equipment, spare parts and manuals," Maryasov said.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said February 23 that Russia and Afghanistan have coordinated the terms of settlement of Afghanistan's debt to the former U.S.S.R., which, according to Russian experts' estimates, totals $10 billion.

"The problem of Afghan debt settlement has been coordinated, and only some formalities remain to be settled," the minister said on a working visit to Afghanistan.

Lavrov said Afghanistan is ready to cooperate with the regional security bodies, the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to fight terrorism and drug trafficking.

Afghanistan has regained its position as the world's top drug producer since U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban in 2001. Illegal drug production and trade is the only source of income for many in the war-torn southwest Asian nation, and is a major source of financing for Islamist militants.

Source: RIA Novosti

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

THE STANS

Britain Launches Reconciliation Drive To Undermine Taliban

London (AFP) Feb 27, 2007
Britain has launched a reconciliation drive in Afghanistan in an effort to undermine the radical Islamist Taliban militia, The Guardian reported in an early edition of its Tuesday newspaper. According to the daily, which cited unnamed senior British officials, Britain is now trying to identify Taliban fighters who are sick of fighting, and will attempt to persuade them to rejoin their tribes instead.

INTERNET SPACE World Getting Ready To Change The Light Bulb Hong Kong Internet Access Fully Restored New Damage And Bad Weather Delay Asian Internet Repairs Asia Turns To Time-Tested Solution For Damaged Internet Cables	LAUNCH PAD Russia May Open New Space Launch Site Hyundai To Build First South Korea Launch Pad Construction Of Soyuz Launch Base In French Guiana Begins Satellite Launcher Arianespace Seeks To Boost US Business
AEROSPACE Raytheon Team Proposes Single International Standard In ADS-B Pursuit NASA Signs Defense Department Agreement Lockheed Martin And FAA Reach Significant Milestone In Transformation Of Flight Services Can UABC Take Russian Aircraft-Makers Out Of Spin	MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS Marines First To Try Out High-Tech Antenna Lockheed Martin Provides Air Force With Instant Intelligence Sharing Capability Sagem Awarded Contract To Study Future Military Communications Network Harris And BAE Systems Demonstrate Highband Networking Radio Using Directive Beam Technology
TECH SPACE INSAT 4B Is Installed On Its Ariane 5 Launcher New Patent Protects Essential MSV Satellite Technology New Coating Is Virtual Black Hole For Reflections NASA Awards SOFIA Development And Engineering Contract To L-3 Communications	APPOINTMENTS Intelsat Names William Shernit President Of Intelsat General Subsidiary Alan Stern Appointed To Lead Science Mission Directorate Former Space Agency Chief May Head RSC Energia Northrop Grumman Names Teri Marconi VP Of Combat Avionics For Electronic Systems
EARTH OBSERVATION Satellite Scientists Set To Descend On Hobart CSIRO Imagery Shows Outer Great Barrier Reef At Risk From River Plumes Scientists Gear Up For Envisat 2007 Symposium ITT Passes Critical Design Review for GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager	GPS NEWS Europe Moves To Safeguard Galileo Frequencies GIOVE-A Navigation Signal Available To Users Malaysia Launches World's Smallest Microchip With Radio Chip The Murky Ethics Of Implanted RFID Chips

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement