СОВМЕСТНОЕ ЗАЯВЛЕНИЕ ПРЕЗИДЕНТОВ АФГАНИСТАНА, ПАКИСТАНА, РОССИИ И ТАДЖИКИСТАНА (АНГЛИЙСКАЯ ВЕРСИЯ)

Joint Statement by the Presidents of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan   The President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitriy Anatolyevich Medvedev and the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, having gathered for the second quadrilateral meeting in August 18, 2010, in Sochi, held an extensive discussion on the state and prospects for regional cooperation, reaffirming the need for consistent implementation of the agreements reached during their first meeting held in July 30, 2010, in Dushanbe; recognizing the particular importance of expanding and strengthening the multilateral cooperation among Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia and Tajikistan as an important component of regional stability and economic development; welcoming the conclusion of the Afghan – Pakistani Agreement on Transit Trade and relying on its successful implementation, expressing concern over the continuing terrorist threat in the region and illegal drug production and distribution to the extent required to qualify this illegal activity as a threat to international peace and stability, 1. Welcome and support the launch of "Kabul process" and holding high-level International Conference on Afghanistan held in July 20, 2010, in Kabul. In this regard, they supported the priority programs, prepared within the framework of the following five areas: security, government, economic and infrastructural development, agricultural and rural development, human development. They also supported the outcomes of the National Advisory Jirga as an important stage within the process towards peace and reconciliation. 2. Underline the importance of regional cooperation to promote stability in the region, including those benefiting from the opportunities of regional cooperation within the framework of the existing international and regional structures, including the SCO in such areas as combating terrorism and drugs, and for these purposes call for more active use of capabilities of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the SCO. 3. Considered as one of their priorities the fight against the drug menace, with emphasis on its implementation in an integrated manner, including the whole chain of illicit production and distribution of drugs – starting from promoting livelihoods and agriculture alternative to drug crime to destruction of drug farms, stem the flow of the precursors and measures to reduce drug use, and instruct the heads of the anti-drug agencies of their states in the near future to meet to work through the relevant substantive issues. 4. Emphasize the importance of the anti-drug preventive operation "Channel" pursued under the auspices of the CSTO, and stand for expanding the number of states participating in the operation as observers. 5. Express readiness to continue active participation in implementation of the provisions of the Action Plan of the SCO member-states and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on fight against terrorism, illegal drug circulation and organized crime adopted at the Special Conference on Afghanistan held under the auspice of the SCO in March 27, 2009 in Moscow. 6. Confirm their intention to participate actively in efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, especially to combat financial flows related to illicit trafficking of narcotic substances and their precursors. 7. Declare their determination to actively counteract the illicit trafficking of weapons, ammunition, explosives and other types of cross-border organized crime. 8. Express interest in continuing to enhance regional economic cooperation in trade, economic and investment fields, to improve the investment climate in the region and establish direct links between the business communities. 9. Supports the intention of the business circles of Russia, Pakistan and Tajikistan, together with the Afghan government and business to participate in rehabilitation and reconstruction of facilities vital to the economy of Afghanistan in areas such as transport, energy, natural resource management and urban development, and emphasize the need to identify specific priority projects in the abovementioned areas, including “Salang” tunnel, oil and gas facilities in the north part of the country, nitrogen fertilizer plant and thermal power plant in Mazar-e Sharif, Kobul house-building factory and Nangarkhar irrigational complex. 10. Stand for implementation of the joint projects on development of energy and transport infrastructure in the region, namely “CASA-1000”, the project that provides for setting up of a transmission facility to import electricity from Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Express hope for active engagement of international financial and economic institutions in implementation of regional economic projects to the benefits of economic recovery in Afghanistan and strengthening stability in the country and the region at large. 12. The President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the President of the Russian Federation and the President of the Republic of Tajikistan express their solidarity and sympathy to the Government and people of Pakistan for the loss of many lives and extensive damage caused by the unprecedented floods in Pakistan and call on the international community to give Pakistan emergency aid in overcoming the consequences of this terrible natural disaster. 13. Decided to hold the next meeting of the Presidents of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan in Dushanbe. The exact date will be determined through diplomatic channels.