Russia congratulates Karzai's re-election

Moscow has welcomed the re-election of Hamid Karzai as the president of Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

After top challenger Abdullah Abdullah withdrew from the presidential run-off election set on Nov. 7, the Afghan Independent Election Commission on Monday announced the run-off election has been canceled with Karzai winning the election.

"Russia is satisfied with the completion of the election process in Afghanistan," said the statement published on the ministry website.

It said "the new national government has much work to do in resolving key issues of stabilizing the situation in the country."

Russia intends to provide assistance to the Central Asian state "by developing cooperation in the political, economic and humanitarian sectors."

Moscow also vowed to help Afghanistan fight terrorism and drug trafficking, said the statement.

Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Russia's State Duma, Leonid Slutsky, also said on Monday that Karzai should intensify efforts to fight drug trafficking.

"The re-election of Karzai should double all efforts aimed at fighting this evil. Russia is ready to provide any assistance to Afghan authorities and International Assistance Security Force in Afghanistan," the Itar-Tass news agency quoted the lawmaker as saying.


Source: Xinhua