Kabul hopes to solve the issue of supplying Sputnik V from Russia as soon as possible, the vaccine may become the first available in the IRA, Afghan Ambassador to Moscow Said Tayeb Javad said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
Earlier, Russian Presidential Special Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov told RIA Novosti that Afghan companies are in talks with Russian partners about the terms and volume of possible supplies of the Russian vaccine against the coronavirus Sputnik V.
"We appreciate the fact that the Russian government is studying our request. We hope that the Sputnik V vaccine will become available in Afghanistan," the Afghan ambassador told the agency.
He added that he himself, as well as members of the diplomatic mission, had previously been vaccinated with the vaccine.
"And I think it will be great if Afghans have this vaccine. The last time I met with Russian officials was last week, and we raised this issue. I was told that it was under consideration. Now, of course, the priority for Russia is to make the vaccine available to all Russian citizens. We understand that and would welcome any number of available vaccines," Javad said.
"If the process is accelerated, Sputnik V will probably be the first vaccine available in Afghanistan," he stressed.
The ambassador added that the topic of supplying Sputnik V "will be on the agenda" of Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar during his visit to Moscow next week. "This is a priority issue for us, we would like to get it as soon as possible," he said.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: sputnikvaccine.com
Based on materials from RIA Novosti