RF, Afghan, Tajik, Pakistani leaders discuss narco-terror threat.

(updates)

18/8 Tass 280

SOCHI, August 18 (Itar-Tass) -- All countries rather than separate
countries should wage a joint struggle against the drug threat, Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday, opening a quadripartite
meeting with the presidents of Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan.
The Russian leader offered to his counterparts to discuss in detail
the current drug threat. "The response to it (the drug threat) should be
joint rather than isolated," Medvedev said, noting, "neither Afghanistan,
nor Russia, nor any other country will settle it alone." "This is a common
problem, and we should act together," he said.
Alongside, Medvedev considers it necessary to discuss joint
counteraction to terrorism and extremism. "We highly value your efforts
(in the struggle against terrorism), but several conceptual and practical
issues exist," the Russian president said.
He emphasized that the current meeting was held in this format for the
second time. "This is very good, this is a normal, working regional
format, and the more consultations we have the better it is," Medvedev
pointed out.
For his part, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon offered to his
counterparts from Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan to sign a joint
document on the struggle against terrorism.
"These countries are playing an important role to ensure security and
sustainable development in their region," he noted. "The threat of
international terrorism to the whole world is real and demands joint
efforts. We call for creating a collective front (on the struggle against
terrorism) and for eradicating the factors feeding the terrorism," Rakhmon
noted. All are aware of the causes for terrorism, namely poverty,
unemployment and other social problems, he noted. "We could reach a new
level of cooperation with the signing of a joint document on the struggle
against terrorism," the Tajik president noted. "The terrorism threat will
persist in the near future and an opportunity for it to remain should not
be ruled out," he added.
Medvedev also offered to discuss regional problems and stronger
economic cooperation.
The Russian leader proposed to discuss the struggle against terrorism,
extremism, the drug threat, current difficulties with state construction
in Afghanistan, as well as the counteraction to natural disasters. One
more time he expressed condolences to the Pakistani president over a major
flood that claimed many lives and entailed enormous damages. "The
international community should have a consolidated position" on the
assistance to Pakistan, Medvedev said. "This was reflected in a joint
draft statement. I would like to make my contribution to the restoration
of the normal life in Pakistan," the Russian president added.
"At the meeting we will discuss all regional problems, including the
domestic ones," Medvedev said, noting, it is primarily the domestic
political situation in Afghanistan, the development of 'the Kabul
process', which envisages the Afghan authorities are held responsible for
the situation in the country; and the international assistance to
Afghanistan.
Alongside, Medvedev put the counteraction to the drug threat,
extremism and terrorism as an item on the agenda of the current meeting.
The presidents also discussed economic cooperation. Medvedev
emphasized that modern projects had been developed in the recent years and
some of them were developed back in the Soviet times. "It is sensible to
get back to them," he said, elaborating that he refers to the projects in
the energy sector and social development.
The Russian leader congratulated again his Pakistani counterpart on
the recent Independence Day of the country, and his Afghan counterpart on
a forthcoming similar national holiday. "I wish to you personal success
and to overcome the difficulties to the peoples," Medvedev said.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai also expressed condolences to his
Pakistani counterpart over a major flood. He expressed confidence that the
people of this country "can overcome all the difficulties." Meanwhile,
Karzai promised to give asylum to refugees from Pakistan in Afghanistan if
necessary.
In his speech Pakistani leader Asif Ali Zardari noted that many
officials recommended to him not to go for the current meeting in Sochi
over the natural disaster in the country. "They exerted pressure on me not
to arrive, but I explained that it is a very important forum," he said.
Zardari also urged the Quartet countries to pool efforts in the struggle
against threats, noting, "only through joint efforts we will be able to
support each other in the settlement of regional problems."
Along with the leaders of the four countries Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov, Russian presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko, director of the
Asian second department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Zamir Kabulov and
his deputy Alexei Dedov are participating in the meeting. Foreign Minister
Hamrokhon Zarifi, presidential state counselor for foreign policy Erkin
Rakhmatullayev represent Tajikistan. Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul,
presidential adviser for national security Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Afghan
charge d'affaires ad interim in Russia Hafizullah Ebadi represent
Afghanistan. Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, First Deputy Foreign
Minister Salman Bashir, Deputy Foreign Minister Muhammad Haroon Shaukat,
Pakistani Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador in Russia Mohammad
Khalid Khattak represent Pakistan.
-0-baz/kud