DUSHANBE, July 31, 2009, Asia-Plus — Russian leader described the meeting between the leaders of Russia, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan as “the symbol of trust”. A new format of cooperation is emerging, the Russian president said, adding that this would facilitate the normalization of the situation in the region.
“Our quadripartite meeting is a symbol of trust and we hope the situation in the region will improve,” President Dmitry Medvedev told reporters in Dushanbe yesterday following the quadripartite meeting that involved the presidents of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia and Tajikistan.
“Today we welcome the creation of a new form of a dialogue. I’m sure that such contacts will be useful,” Medvedev said, stressing that key regional problems – from economic cooperation to the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism – might be discussed in this format. “We’re ready to solve these problems within traditional formats and through cooperation, which is being created here,” he said.
Medvedev noted that Russia was ready to make its contribution to those processes. “We seek regional and international security to be more understandable and transparent, more controllable and based on international rules and on our common wish to help each other,” he said.
Medvedev called for developing cooperation between Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan by engaging in concrete projects.
The Russian president also called for filling cooperation between the three countries with concrete substance and involving international financial organizations in this process. “We have a common space that we should fill with different projects in the energy sector, railways and regional trade.”
“Only these actions will help us create normal conditions for people living here and solve very painful and difficult problems, which have been accumulating for decades in the region,” the Russian leader stressed.
In his opinion, international financial institutions may join such projects. “I believe that the World Bank may show interest in such projects,” he added.
