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Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
April 19 2008
Afghanistan Always Supported Azerbaijan's Position on Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Settlement: Foreign Minister of Afghanistan (Interview)
19.04.08 14:06
Azerbaijan, Baku, 18 April /corr. TrendNews D.Khatinoglu / Exclusive
interview of Trend News Persian Service with Rangin Dadfar Spanta,
the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan.
Question: What is your estimation of the relations between
Afghanistan and Azerbaijan, and what are your views on the prospects
of co-operation between the two countries?
Answer: There are favorable relations between the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and I believe that these
relations will also be developing in future for the interests of the
peoples of the two countries, taking into consideration the ancient
historical ties between the two Muslim countries.
When Azerbaijan declared its independence after collapse of the former
USSR on 30 August 1991, Afghanistan was one of the first countries
recognizing Azerbaijan's independence. The relations between the two
countries have been established at the level of accredited ambassadors.
During his visit to Kabul in 2007, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Pakistan
said that his country is willing to open a diplomatic representation
in Afghanistan. Should it is realized, the co-operation will be useful
and efficient enough to expand and strengthen the relations between
the two countries.
The Government and people of Afghanistan support Azerbaijan's efforts
in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Afghanistan supported
Azerbaijan's position in all events and meetings being organized by
the UN in this regard. In its turn, Azerbaijan, in co-operation with
the international community and the Afghan people, participated in
joint fighting against international terrorism and sent more than 30
military people to our country within peacekeeping forces.
A while ago, the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov,
said that Azerbaijan made $150,000 contribution to Afghanistan within
the ECO.
Appraising Azerbaijan's geo-political importance in Caucasus and
its experience in various spheres, the Government of Afghanistan is
willing to develop trade and economic relations as well as wishes state
and private companies, business people of Azerbaijan to participate
actively in re-establishing Afghanistan.
Question: The NATO summit in Bucharest made a decision to increase the
number of foreign peacekeepers in Afghanistan by nearly 2,000. What
is Kabul's position on this issue, and is the Government satisfied
with the continuation of the NATO peacekeeping mission?
Answer: The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan needs durable support of
the international community, including NATO, to bring its forces to
the necessary level, ensure successful process of peace establishment
in the Country and stability in the national security. We support the
decision to send 2,000 peacekeepers more to Afghanistan to accelerate
this process. However, it is more important to intensify accelerate
training and equipment of our security forces so that they could have
much opportunities and gain full control over combating terrorism. The
universal strategy covering military and civil spheres represents
importance for combating terrorism and fortunately, this issue was
approved and supported at NATO Bucharest summit
Question: What is Kabul's position on the participation of Muslim
countries in NATO peacekeeping forces? What is Afghan people's attitude
towards them as compared to peacekeepers from non-Muslim countries?
Answer: Afghanistan is located on the top front of combating terrorism,
which is considered as a serious regional and international problem. We
consider necessary the support from the international community, which
also includes Islamic world, their co-operation with the Afghan forces
to take victory over terrorism and ensure security. Currently the
forces of the two Muslim countries, Turkey and United Arab Emirates,
serve in Afghanistan. We wish the Muslim countries to take an active
part in fighting against terrorism in Afghanistan, re-establishing
and developing the country and training the security forces of our
country. The Paris conference will be a favorable event for fraternal
and Muslim countries to gain more opportunities to assist Afghanistan
in its development.
Question: Afghanistan acts as a transit county for drug trafficking
to Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and onwards to Europe. What measures
are being taken to prevent that?
Answer: The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan considers the drug issue
a serious national and international problem and regards it as part
of priorities of its security and socio-economic program. With this
respect we take a range of measures, including the establishment of
the Ministry of Drug Enforcement, development of a relevant bill,
approval of a new National Strategy, establishment of the Police
Academy and special courts, as well as signing of agreements on
mutual cooperation with the United States, the People's Republic of
China, Iran and Tajikistan in the field of drug enforcement. Adequate
documents are being designed in close cooperation with Russia and
Kazakhstan which will be signed in near future.
We expect the countries in the region to cooperate seriously with
the Afghan police in this field. There is a need to develop more
perfect strategy for drug enforcement. The national strategy includes
annihilating drug plantings through and cultivating agricultural
crops, strengthening of law-enforcement bodies, and particularly,
preventing drug trafficking. Along with terrorism, drugs also pose
a threat to the region and international community. Therefore, both
regional and international cooperation are needed in this field.
Question: Recent media reports urge existence of confrontation between
the Islamic and Christian Worlds. What measures should be taken to
prevent equitation of Islam with terrorism?
Answer: In our opinion, there is no confrontation between the Islamic
and Christian Worlds. However, some radical forces of both sides
use religion to achieve their own goals and to raise inter-religious
hostility.
Islam has nothing to do with terrorism. Islam is the religion
of peace and security, calling people to peaceful and fraternal
coexistence. Some radical forces want to connect their crimes with
the Islamic religion. However, we together with intelligentsia in
Afghanistan proved that the religion of Islam has nothing to do with
terrorism acts, storage and smuggling of drugs.
Today's Afghanistan is the centre of inter-religious cooperation. We
try to make Afghanistan the bridge between the Western democracy and
Islamic countries.
At the Conference of Unity of Civilizations held in Madrid, we
suggested creation of Intercultural Organization to bring closer
different religions, languages and cultures and provide their peaceful
coexistence. Afghanistan is ready to comprehensively cooperate for
establishment of the organization.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
April 19 2008
Afghanistan Always Supported Azerbaijan's Position on Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Settlement: Foreign Minister of Afghanistan (Interview)
19.04.08 14:06
Azerbaijan, Baku, 18 April /corr. TrendNews D.Khatinoglu / Exclusive
interview of Trend News Persian Service with Rangin Dadfar Spanta,
the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan.
Question: What is your estimation of the relations between
Afghanistan and Azerbaijan, and what are your views on the prospects
of co-operation between the two countries?
Answer: There are favorable relations between the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and I believe that these
relations will also be developing in future for the interests of the
peoples of the two countries, taking into consideration the ancient
historical ties between the two Muslim countries.
When Azerbaijan declared its independence after collapse of the former
USSR on 30 August 1991, Afghanistan was one of the first countries
recognizing Azerbaijan's independence. The relations between the two
countries have been established at the level of accredited ambassadors.
During his visit to Kabul in 2007, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Pakistan
said that his country is willing to open a diplomatic representation
in Afghanistan. Should it is realized, the co-operation will be useful
and efficient enough to expand and strengthen the relations between
the two countries.
The Government and people of Afghanistan support Azerbaijan's efforts
in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Afghanistan supported
Azerbaijan's position in all events and meetings being organized by
the UN in this regard. In its turn, Azerbaijan, in co-operation with
the international community and the Afghan people, participated in
joint fighting against international terrorism and sent more than 30
military people to our country within peacekeeping forces.
A while ago, the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov,
said that Azerbaijan made $150,000 contribution to Afghanistan within
the ECO.
Appraising Azerbaijan's geo-political importance in Caucasus and
its experience in various spheres, the Government of Afghanistan is
willing to develop trade and economic relations as well as wishes state
and private companies, business people of Azerbaijan to participate
actively in re-establishing Afghanistan.
Question: The NATO summit in Bucharest made a decision to increase the
number of foreign peacekeepers in Afghanistan by nearly 2,000. What
is Kabul's position on this issue, and is the Government satisfied
with the continuation of the NATO peacekeeping mission?
Answer: The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan needs durable support of
the international community, including NATO, to bring its forces to
the necessary level, ensure successful process of peace establishment
in the Country and stability in the national security. We support the
decision to send 2,000 peacekeepers more to Afghanistan to accelerate
this process. However, it is more important to intensify accelerate
training and equipment of our security forces so that they could have
much opportunities and gain full control over combating terrorism. The
universal strategy covering military and civil spheres represents
importance for combating terrorism and fortunately, this issue was
approved and supported at NATO Bucharest summit
Question: What is Kabul's position on the participation of Muslim
countries in NATO peacekeeping forces? What is Afghan people's attitude
towards them as compared to peacekeepers from non-Muslim countries?
Answer: Afghanistan is located on the top front of combating terrorism,
which is considered as a serious regional and international problem. We
consider necessary the support from the international community, which
also includes Islamic world, their co-operation with the Afghan forces
to take victory over terrorism and ensure security. Currently the
forces of the two Muslim countries, Turkey and United Arab Emirates,
serve in Afghanistan. We wish the Muslim countries to take an active
part in fighting against terrorism in Afghanistan, re-establishing
and developing the country and training the security forces of our
country. The Paris conference will be a favorable event for fraternal
and Muslim countries to gain more opportunities to assist Afghanistan
in its development.
Question: Afghanistan acts as a transit county for drug trafficking
to Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and onwards to Europe. What measures
are being taken to prevent that?
Answer: The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan considers the drug issue
a serious national and international problem and regards it as part
of priorities of its security and socio-economic program. With this
respect we take a range of measures, including the establishment of
the Ministry of Drug Enforcement, development of a relevant bill,
approval of a new National Strategy, establishment of the Police
Academy and special courts, as well as signing of agreements on
mutual cooperation with the United States, the People's Republic of
China, Iran and Tajikistan in the field of drug enforcement. Adequate
documents are being designed in close cooperation with Russia and
Kazakhstan which will be signed in near future.
We expect the countries in the region to cooperate seriously with
the Afghan police in this field. There is a need to develop more
perfect strategy for drug enforcement. The national strategy includes
annihilating drug plantings through and cultivating agricultural
crops, strengthening of law-enforcement bodies, and particularly,
preventing drug trafficking. Along with terrorism, drugs also pose
a threat to the region and international community. Therefore, both
regional and international cooperation are needed in this field.
Question: Recent media reports urge existence of confrontation between
the Islamic and Christian Worlds. What measures should be taken to
prevent equitation of Islam with terrorism?
Answer: In our opinion, there is no confrontation between the Islamic
and Christian Worlds. However, some radical forces of both sides
use religion to achieve their own goals and to raise inter-religious
hostility.
Islam has nothing to do with terrorism. Islam is the religion
of peace and security, calling people to peaceful and fraternal
coexistence. Some radical forces want to connect their crimes with
the Islamic religion. However, we together with intelligentsia in
Afghanistan proved that the religion of Islam has nothing to do with
terrorism acts, storage and smuggling of drugs.
Today's Afghanistan is the centre of inter-religious cooperation. We
try to make Afghanistan the bridge between the Western democracy and
Islamic countries.
At the Conference of Unity of Civilizations held in Madrid, we
suggested creation of Intercultural Organization to bring closer
different religions, languages and cultures and provide their peaceful
coexistence. Afghanistan is ready to comprehensively cooperate for
establishment of the organization.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress