MOSCOW, August 24 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is continuing to contribute to stability in Afghanistan and in the region as a whole, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
The ministry's comment came on the heels of the UN Security Council's passing of its official statement on Afghanistan, sealing the international community's priorities in securing a steady settlement there.
The statement welcomes the progress achieved by Afghan authorities in preparing for the September 18 parliamentary and council elections and urges the international community to contribute additional financial aid to the electoral process.
However, the council also expressed concern over weakening security in Afghanistan and said it was important for the Afghan government to develop cooperation with neighboring states to secure a long-lasting peace and stabilize the situation.
The council also proposed drafting a strategy to fight the drug threat emanating from Afghanistan by strengthening and creating new anti-drug safety belts favored by the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which includes Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
