Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov sends a greeting address to participants of V session of the Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan

On 29 September at the V session of the Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan held in Kazan with participation of the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, the Director of the Second Department of Asia of the Russian Foreign Ministry Zamir Kabulov read out a greeting address from the Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov, who could not take part in the session in person due to a number of reasons.

In his address Sergey Lavrov expressed his special gratitude to Rustam Minnikhanov and the Government of the republic for perfect organization of the event and hospitality.

He wrote special words of greetings to the guest of the session-the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi.

“The Moscow Format is of an open and universal character which makes it possible to bring closer direct neighbours and other regional stakeholders in development of relations with the current Government of Afghanistan. The aim of such coordinated positions is to solve the main task of smooth integration of the country in the life of the region in different spheres. I cannot but mention that we are worried by efforts of non-regional players to become active in Afghanistan direction,” the address says.

Full-scale merger of efforts of countries of the region with the NATO member countries is possible only under the condition that the latter will completely acknowledge their responsibility for sad consequences of their 20-year military presence in Afghanistan which ended with complete failure, Sergey Lavrov stated.

“Western countries which have done irreparable damage to Afghan people must undertake the main burden of post-conflict restoration of the country. In this respect the blocking of Afghanistan bank deposits abroad by Washington is counterproductive and exacerbates the state of affairs, making life conditions of common Afghans even more complicated,” the Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Sergey Lavrov also said he was sure that results of work of participants of the meeting will facilitate strengthening security and provision of social and economic development of Afghanistan.