Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Photo: Dmitry Azarov
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Russia Pardons Afghan Debt
The Foreign Ministry of Russia confirmed Monday the intention to write off Afghan debt that exceeds $10 billion. This action of Russia is expected to close any questions concerning the remedy demanded for military presence of Soviet troops in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989.
Russia’s intention to pardon Afghan debt incurred through intergovernmental loans of 1970s to 1980s was announced by Deputy Finance Minister Sergey Storchak over the conference of international donors of Afghanistan held in London January 31, 2006. The debt that has amassed since the time of the former Soviet Union amounts to roughly $10 billion, Storchak specified.
On behalf of the government, Russia’s Foreign Ministry officially confirmed Storchak’s statement Monday. In line with the HIPC program, Russia may pardon all debt of Afghanistan, the more so it has never been assessed or serviced by multiple governments of that country.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Feb. 07, 2006
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