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US, Taliban insist on Russia’s presence at signing of agreement — senior diplomat

It is not yet known whether the agreement will be signed and when, the official pointed out

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov

© Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS

VLADIVOSTOK, September 3. /TASS/. The United States and Afghanistan’s movement Taliban (outlawed in Russia) insist that Russia should be present in some capacity at the possible signing of an agreement the two sides are working on, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov said in reply to a TASS question.

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"Firstly, we’ve got to realize when the agreement will be achieved and what it is about. It is not ruled out that at the request of both participants in the negotiations Russia will be present at the signing of the document in some capacity, if and when it has been agreed," Morgulov said, adding that "not only Russia, but some other countries might be present at the signing."

Reuters said on Monday that an agreement on a peace settlement in Afghanistan between the Taliban and the United States would be officially signed after its approval by Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani. According to information available at this point US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad had met with the Afghan leader to present to him a draft peace agreement between the Taliban and the US administration. Ghani has two days to consider the draft agreement and make up his mind.

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