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Russia will back any efforts to facilitate national reconciliation in Afghanistan

Russia will support any contacts, which will be aimed at facilitating national reconciliation in Afghanistan

MOSCOW, February 8 (Itar-Tass) – Russia will support any contacts, which will be aimed at facilitating national reconciliation in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

After the talks with the Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Har on Wednesday, Lavrov said, “We will support any contacts for Afghanistan's reconciliation. This should be done in compliance with certain principles. The key principle is to do its best for the Afghans themselves to maintain contacts with the Taliban movement.”

“Another condition is that the Taliban movement should comply with the criteria put forth by the Afghan leadership – to give up violence, to recognize the Constitution and wreck any relations with Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups,” the Russian minister said.

“If the Taliban movement agrees tosuch approach, I do not see any reasons for Afghans themselves not to start national reconciliation,” Lavrov stressed.

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Houthis say they attacked MSC Darwin vessel in Gulf of Aden

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Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

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Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

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Russian cosmonauts begin first spacewalk in 2024

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Industrial Development Fund will get additional capitalization of 300 bln rubles — Putin

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Konstantin Gavrilov also noted that the "manic efforts" of some Western OSCE member countries to isolate Russia "are futile and will backfire on their initiators"

Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

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Global community changing tune about how Ukraine conflict started — security official

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Russian Embassy to Austria denied participation in ceremony at Nazi concentration camp

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Around ten shopping malls in Moscow evacuated over bomb threats

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Foreign delegations show great interest in Russian defense products — security official

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Cosmonauts complete spacewalk two hours ahead of schedule

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North Korea to take part in SPIEF — Embassy in Russia

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IN BRIEF: Russian deputy defense minister, entrepreneur arrested for taking bribes

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Global community condemns use of terrorists in geopolitical struggle — Russian official

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White House alleges that Russia working on satellite carrying nuclear device

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Russia to hold next international security meeting in 2025 — top security official

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Positive trends in Russian economy become stronger — Putin

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