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Russia ready to help build power line from Central to South Asia - Medvedev

The project at issue is called CASA-1000. It involves the export of electricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan

DUSHANBE, September 2 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia is waiting for an invitation to participate in the construction of a power transmission system from Central Asia to South Asia, and it is ready to invest into the project hundreds of millions of dollars, President Dmitry Medvedev said after a meeting with his counterparts from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan.

The project at issue is called CASA-1000. It involves the export of electricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"Russia is ready to take part in this project, it is prepared to invest substantial funds. Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake," said Medvedev at a news conference after a four-party summit.

"But for this the necessary organizational decisions are to be taken to invite us there," said the Russian head of state.

Russia, he said, is also interested in joining the project CAPI, which provides for laying an export pipeline from Central Asia through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India.

"We are ready to take part in it, too," said Medvedev.

"And of course, we are ready to take part in bilateral projects, which have traditionally existed between Russia and the friendly countries present here," said the Russian president.

He said that the quartet of countries was in the process of developing a "road map," which will include specific proposals for developing cooperation in the socio-economic sphere.

"It's time to move from words to action ... There are a number of projects that have long been on the table but stayed idle and that should be implemented," Medvedev said.