LONDON, January 31 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is ready to use its presidency in the Group of Eight industrialized nations in 2006 to help Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

"We intend to use our G8 presidency to help the Afghan leadership achieve peace, democracy, stability and economic prosperity and to boost the relevant efforts of the donor community," Lavrov said at an international conference on Afghanistan.

He said Russia would help the Afghan government and President Hamid Karzai attain the country's goals.