DUSHANBE, April 17. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia closely follows the situation in Afghanistan, without ruling out a possible deterioration of the situation in that country after 2014, Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of Russia's Security Council, told journalists on Thursday on the sidelines of the meeting of the Secretaries of the Security Councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member-countries.

"Russia and its partners for the SCO share concern over a possible negative development of the situation in Afghanistan after the withdrawal, planned for the current year, of International coalition forces from there," Patrushev said, adding that "Much will also depend on the outcome of (the republic's) presidential elections".

He said SCO countries are committed to "a peaceful settlement of the conflict" in Afghanistan, and "come out in favor of giving greater scope to economic aid to the country an important component of peace and stability".

The Security Council secretary expressed satisfaction with the results of the meeting, emphasizing that "its participants have demonstrated a common interest in stepping up efforts in the fight against terrorist threats, trafficking in narcotics, and other challenges".

The meeting was attended by the Secretaries of the Security Councils of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan's Deputy Secretary of SCO. As a result of the meeting, the sides signed a Protocol on Cooperation. In a final statement, the participants in the meeting "expressed support for the Afghan people's efforts towards national reconciliation, a peaceful rehabilitation and revival of the country under the guidance of Afghans and by Afghan people themselves".