WASHINGTON, May 28 (RIA Novosti, Arkady Orlov) - Russia and the US admit that the opium poppy is still grown in Afghanistan on a large scale to produce drugs, and spare no effort to address the problem, but cannot yet say when it will be solved.This is what co-chairmen of the Russian-US working group for terrorism, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, told reporters in Washington on Friday.
"There is a problem, and we admit it," Kislyak said and added that only consistent and long-term efforts could change the situation.
"We are glad to see cooperation between Russian and American anti-drug services expand and proceed on a daily basis," said Kislyak. Russia's anti-drug agency plans to open its representation in Kabul in the hope that it will help regulate the drug situation in Afghanistan. The Afghan side has authorized the move.
According to Burns, the US is also concerned over the opium poppy problem in Afghanistan. UN experts say drug production soared after the Taleban were forced out in 2001, and hit the record 4,000 metric tons of opium popper, or about 360 metric tons of heroin, in 2004.
Burns said that when Afghan President Hamid Karzai visited Washington recently, George Bush promised him all-out support in solving this problem.
We are committed to helping the Afghan government, said Burns. However, he refused to cite at least tentative timeframe.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Bush in the White House last Monday, Karzai said the Afghan authorities hoped to reduce opium poppy planting by 20-30% this year.
"If this trend persists, we hope no opium poppy will be grown in Afghanistan in five-six years," said Karzai.
