NOVO-OGARYOVO, September 17. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged to think about gradual unfreezing of Afghanistan’s funds in international structures.
"I think it also makes sense to work with the United States, other western countries for gradual unfreezing of Afghanistan’s reserves and restoration of programs through the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund," he said at a joint meeting of the leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Friday.
President also noted that the situation in the Afghan economy is severe as all funds in foreign banks are frozen. He mentioned the UN’s estimate saying that half of the Afghan people need humanitarian assistance to survive, whereas one out of three has no access to food now.
"We assume that it is the US and NATO states, which obviously bear direct responsibility for the harsh consequences of their longstanding presence in the country, should assume the bulk of expenditures related to the post-conflict recovery of Afghanistan," Putin noted.