MOSCOW, June 3. /TASS/. Russia remains Afghanistan’s donor and plans to take part in the international donors conference on Afghanistan in Brussels in October, Head of Russian Foreign Ministry’s Afghanistan Department Albert Khorev said on Friday.
"We have rendered, render and will continue to render assistance to friendly Afghan people in the fight against threats and challenges that Afghanistan faces," Khorev said at the Russian-Afghan business forum at Russia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "One of the main directions of our cooperation is developing trade and economic ties," he added.
"We understand very well that current problems in Afghanistan cannot be resolved only by military and diplomatic means. It is very important for the Afghan economy to develop, for the level and life conditions of Afghans to improve," the diplomat noted.
"The more Afghan companies, private firms, are working, the more production they are selling, the more jobs will be in Afghanistan, and terrorist organizations will be devoid of their financial base," he continued.
"We understand Kabul’s dependence on Western financial donors at this stage and consequential restrictions for our countries. We share doubts of several Afghan representatives on the effectiveness of donor assistance that Western countries and organizations allocate for Afghanistan," Khorev said.
In this regard, the diplomat noted that Russia "prefers to develop its trade relations with Afghanistan on a bilateral basis, without involving other institutions."
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