MOSCOW, December 15. /TASS/. Washington requires Kabul to replace 50 thousand Kalashnikovs, transferred without compensation to the country’s security forces, on the American rifle. This was stated Friday by the Minister of foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov, speaking in the Federation Council in the framework of “government hour”.
“The Americans began to insist that 50 thousand Kalashnikov assault rifles with ammunition, which had been handed over to the Afghan security forces were decommissioned, and in return Afghanistan has bought us rifles and machine guns,” he said.
“In addition to questions about where these 50 thousand machines go, and we question the Afghans asked, there is another – what explains this desire to undermine the ability of the Afghan army to use the weapons to which she was accustomed to, and impose something which still gives me the creeps”, said Lavrov.
The Minister recalled that the United States demanded of Afghanistan to abandon the Russian helicopters, familiar to army of the country and proven in the field, and replace them in the us. “No it (the reasons for the actions of the USA – approx. TASS) answer, except that we Americans are trying to obstruct just for the love of art” – said Lavrov.
Lavrov added that Russia is actively helping to equip weapons the army and security forces of Afghanistan to combat the threats of drug trafficking and terrorism, which are unable to cope United States.
“If we talk about who is inside Afghanistan will have to solve this problem, of course, is the Afghan security forces and the Armed forces of Afghanistan, he said. – We actively help to equip them with the weapons they need”.
At the same time, he said, are in the country, American troops can not cope with any increase in drug production, nor the threat of terrorism. “Anti-terrorism no excuses to not be, it is right in the mandate of NATO forces is recorded, – said the head of the foreign Ministry. But every time we are interested in what they are doing in this regard, clear answers don’t get”.
