Talks with Taliban should be conducted if it lays down arms - FM

MOSCOW, May 20 (Itar-Tass) - A dialogue with the Taliban is
Afghanistan's internal affair and it will be possible only on condition
that militants will lay down their arms and recognize Afghanistan's
constitution, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich
said on Friday.
"We know that Afghanistan's High Peace Council under support of the
world community is taking efforts to establish a dialogue with
representatives of the armed opposition, the Taliban movement in
particular," he said. "This is being done within the framework of the
program for national reconciliation and promotion of a dialogue inside
Afghanistan."
"We proceed from the assumption that the dialogue with the Taliban is
first of all a domestic affair of the Afghans themselves. At the same time
it is very important that the opposition gets an unbiased signal on the
whole range of conditions implying that Taliban militants should lay down
arms, recognize Afghanistan's constitution and stop relations with
Al-Qaeda," Lukashevich said.
"In the interests of establishing contacts with the Taliban movement
Kabul has the right to rely on the UN's mediation services," the diplomat
said. "As far as we know the information that the United States is
conducting direct talks with Taliban militants does not correspond to
reality and according to the media, the Taliban openly denies such
reports, therefore it is rather difficult to comment on this information."