.U.S. Can Ship Afghan Aid Through Russia, Kremlin Says
MOSCOW — Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, said Friday that Russia had fast-tracked approval of a plan to allow the United States military to ship nonlethal equipment across Russian territory to Afghanistan.
“We gave our consent, literally, in 24 hours,” he said. “We expect our American partners to provide a concrete request with the quantity and description of cargo. We shall grant the relevant permission as soon as it happens.”
Russia has emphasized its desire to cooperate with the United States and NATO in Afghanistan since the announcement on Tuesday that Kyrgyzstan, a close Russian ally, will close the Manas air base, a critical link in supplying the war effort in Afghanistan. Losing access to the base is a serious setback to President Obama, who hopes to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan.
Both Russian and Kyrgyz officials have said Russia played no role in the decision to close the base. But it was announced in Moscow, just as Russia promised Kyrgyzstan $2.15 billion in aid, and American officials concluded that Russia had encouraged the move.
Though Washington scrambled to dissuade Kyrgyz officials, the national security chief, Adakhan Madumarov, said Friday, “The fate of the air base is sealed.”
Competing interests shape Russian policy on Afghanistan. The Kremlin is eager to ensure stability in the region out of fear that the heroin trade and Islamic extremism could spread across its borders. But many Russians also feel deep frustration at the presence of the United States military in former Soviet republics.
NYT
Lucky us.
“We gave our consent, literally, in 24 hours,” he said. “We expect our American partners to provide a concrete request with the quantity and description of cargo. We shall grant the relevant permission as soon as it happens.”
Russia has emphasized its desire to cooperate with the United States and NATO in Afghanistan since the announcement on Tuesday that Kyrgyzstan, a close Russian ally, will close the Manas air base, a critical link in supplying the war effort in Afghanistan. Losing access to the base is a serious setback to President Obama, who hopes to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan.
Both Russian and Kyrgyz officials have said Russia played no role in the decision to close the base. But it was announced in Moscow, just as Russia promised Kyrgyzstan $2.15 billion in aid, and American officials concluded that Russia had encouraged the move.
Though Washington scrambled to dissuade Kyrgyz officials, the national security chief, Adakhan Madumarov, said Friday, “The fate of the air base is sealed.”
Competing interests shape Russian policy on Afghanistan. The Kremlin is eager to ensure stability in the region out of fear that the heroin trade and Islamic extremism could spread across its borders. But many Russians also feel deep frustration at the presence of the United States military in former Soviet republics.
NYT
Lucky us.
posted by madtom at 7:05 PM
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