Russia, NATO to launch trust fund for helicopters in Afghanistan

MOSCOW, April 15 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia and NATO will negotiate in
Berlin on Friday the creation of a Trust Fund for the supply and
maintenance of Russian Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters in Afghanistan,
according to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko.
The Trust Fund, which is expected to get a go-ahead in Berlin, is to
promote Afghan personnel training and helicopter and spare parts delivery.
This week the Russian Kommersant daily reported Moscow and Washington
had agreed the terms of a contract to supply Afghanistan with 21 MI-17
helicopters. The deal is expected to give Russia $367.5 million however
some NATO states want Russia to contribute the helicopters for free.
But Grushko said "some NATO countries announced readiness to make
their national contributions to the fund."
Kommersant quoted Afghanistan's Air Force Chief of Staff Abdul Wahab
Wardak as saying the year-long negotiations of the deal were over and the
delivery is expected to begin in the end of the year. "We need it very
much," he said.
"Major preparatory work has been accomplished to determine the Afghan
needs in helicopters, personnel training and servicing. We believe the
ministerial meeting will give an impetus to the work," Grushko said.
He said cooperation in Afghanistan offered "the most visible
achievement of the Russia-NATO Council" also due to the training of the
national anti-drug personnel.
"All that will enhance further interaction and promote the elimination
of the drug threat coming from Afghanistan," Grushko said.
He recalled that Russia opened its airspace for military transit to
coalition forces in Afghanistan and said it was ready to continue transit
assistance to ISAF.