ANKARA, August 21. /TASS/. Turkish military personnel can carry on providing security at Kabul airport in case necessary conditions are created, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Saturday.
"Speaking about the developments in Afghanistan, President Erdogan stated that Turkey can continue being responsible for the security and operation of Kabul airport in the future once the right conditions are created. This will facilitate solutions for all the sides, first and foremost, for the international community and the Afghan people," the Turkish president’s office quoted him as saying.
The Turkish and Russian Presidents have agreed to coordinate relations with Afghanistan’s would-be government, the Turkish president’s office said on Saturday after the two leaders’ phone conversation.
"[Turkish] President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan and Russian President [Vladimir] Putin also agreed to coordinate the future relationship with the government that will be formed [in Afghanistan] in the coming period," Erdogan’s office said in a statement.
Avoid making the same mistakes
Members of the radical Taliban movement (outlawed in Russia) should avoid making the same mistakes as in the past, Erdogan said.
"President Erdogan said that he wants a soft transfer [of power] in Afghanistan and stressed the need for the Taliban not to repeat their past mistakes and to act with understanding in regard to all ethnic groups, and also keep their promises," the Turkish president's office quoted him as saying.
According to Erdogan, the new Afghan government "should be inclusive to reflect the diversity of people" in Afghanistan.
On August 15, the Taliban movement (banned in Russia) swept into Kabul, meeting no resistance and taking complete control of the Afghan capital within hours. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced he was leaving the country to avoid bloodshed. Vice President Amrullah Saleh said that under the constitution, he becomes "the caretaker president" in absence of president and called for armed resistance against the Taliban. Western nations are evacuating their citizens and diplomatic missions.
On February 14, 2003, Russia’s Supreme Court handed down a ruling declaring the Taliban to be a terrorist organization, which is outlawed in Russia.