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President Putin said he was happy to become acquainted with the man who had assumed responsibility for Afghanistan at this important moment. President Putin said Russian-Afghan relations had been expanding for a long time, and that Moscow wanted Afghanistan to be an independent, prosperous and friendly state. The Russian leader said there had been different periods in bilateral relations, which must now develop for the benefit of both nations.

Hamid Karzai expressed confidence that friendly Russian-Afghan ties would help stabilise the situation in Afghanistan and the entire region. He thanked Vladimir Putin for Moscow’s efforts at the talks for an Afghan peace settlement.

A Russian-Afghan statement was signed after the 90-minute talks. In all, 17 memorandums of cooperation between national ministries and departments were signed after Hamid Karzai’s meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. Apart from building new facilities in Afghanistan and restoring the national infrastructure, the agreements stipulate the delivery of Russian farming machinery and industrial equipment.

After the talks, Vladimir Putin and Hamid Karzai made press statements and replied to journalists’ questions.