Russia says Afghan summit to help coordinate global efforts
Moscow - Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday that an international conference on Afghanistan hosted by Moscow would help coordinate global efforts to stabilize the country.
"These (meetings) are directed at increasing the effectiveness of the international cooperation and in its action to support the Afghan leadership's struggle against the threat of terrorism and drug-trafficking," Lavrov was quoted by news agency Itar-tass as saying after talks with his Kyrgyz counterpart.
The conference Friday is organized by the Shaghai Cooperation Organization, which groups Russia and China with the post-Soviet states of Central Asia that are geo-strategically vital partners for the United States and NATO to get supplies through to troops in northern Afghanistan.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and senior officials from Afghanistan, Turkey, the US, the European Union, NATO and other international organizations would also be in attendance. (dpa)
