Earlier reports said that according to expert estimates, Afghanistan owed Russia $10 billion for Soviet-era arms supplies.
Alexander Grushko said the interests of Russia and NATO coincided in Afghanistan. "We have established direct cooperation with NATO on the issue of transit, and have signed relevant agreements with Germany and France," he said, adding that Russia was ready to repair the Afghan economy, implement infrastructure projects, render necessary rear-area support and consider applications to equip the Afghan army.
The official said Russia was interested in reviving the Afghan economy as soon as possible so that the country could be a safe partner in security.
"It is not in our interests that the Taliban reestablish control of the country, the more so since that would threaten other countries with instability," Grushko said.
From 2002 to 2005 Russia provided over $200 million worth of assistance to Afghanistan's defense industry. Facing an increase in the activity of the Taliban, al Qaeda and other extremists, the Afghan authorities recently asked Russia to resume aid programs suspended in 2005.
Afghanistan is rich in mineral resources and has a huge potential for economic growth. One of the Russian Foreign Ministry's priorities has been to attract Russian companies in the implementation of economic projects in Afghanistan, which could yield substantial dividends both to Russian and Afghan businesses.
Russia has been urging NATO to launch a more active fight against Afghan drugs, Grushko said, citing a project being currently implemented at the Foreign Ministry's center in Domodedovo, Moscow Region, to train drug control officers.
At a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said he expected the alliance and Russia to further expand their cooperation against drug trafficking in Afghanistan and to overcome.
NATO is contributing to the fight against terrorism through military operations in Afghanistan.
