Russia welcomes the three-day cease-fire announced by the Afghan authorities and the radical Taliban movement (banned in Russia) and hopes that this step will further advance the peace process in this country, the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry comments.
"The Afghan authorities and the Taliban have declared a three-day ceasefire to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Russia welcomes this announcement and expects it to become the next step in building mutual trust between the warring parties in Afghanistan and launching direct intra-Afghan talks. We hope that the declared ceasefire will give an impetus to further progress in the peace process," the statement reads, in particular.
At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that "in the current situation a full-scale and long- term ceasefire in Afghanistan is only possible after launching an inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue and completing the prisoner exchange."
"Russia calls for fulfilling these conditions as soon as possible and removing all obstacles to a comprehensive settlement of the Afghan problem," the message concludes.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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