NATO, Russia share interests in Afghanistan: Russian military leader

Russia and NATO have similar long-term interests in Afghanistan, Nikolai Makarov, the chief of staff of Russian Armed Forces, said Friday.

"Let us start with the situation in Afghanistan. Russia's and NATO's long-term interests in this region coincide," Makarov said after a meeting with Giampaolo di Paola, chairman of the NATO Military Committee.

Makarov said Russia is interested in successful operations of the international force and renders real assistance to the NATO contingent in Afghanistan.

He pointed out, too, that Russia ensures the transit of military equipment and personnel to Afghanistan.

"We will help Afghanistan in training police officers. Now we are considering the issue of helicopter supplies to the Afghan army," he said. "We are ready to offer consultancy in military and combat training based on our Afghan experience, including on our mistakes."

Di Paola, meanwhile, said that in the next few months NATO would focus on preparing a program of joint actions with Russia for 2011. Major areas of cooperation would include search and rescue operations at sea, fighting terrorism, and Afghanistan, he said.

NATO severed ties with Russia following the August 2008 conflict with Georgia. In January 2010, the Russian and NATO chiefs of staff met in Brussels for talks. As a result, a framework military cooperation treaty was approved. The agreement was seen as an important step toward the restoration of military ties between Russia and NATO.

Source:Xinhua