Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said the Moscow Format of Consultations is currently the most representative platform for building regional consensus on Afghanistan. He was speaking on Tuesday, November 3, at the Fourth Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security in Belarus.
"Today, the most representative platform for developing a regional consensus on Afghanistan is the so-called Moscow Format of Consultations," Lavrov said. He noted that the format's eighth meeting was held in Moscow last month with a high-level Afghan delegation in attendance, and stressed that regional countries should take the lead on Afghanistan, arguing that outside powers cannot replace cooperation and dialogue among neighbours.
The Moscow Format brings together Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, India and Central Asian states to discuss political, security and economic developments concerning Afghanistan. According to sources, disagreements between Afghan and Pakistani representatives over terminology related to terrorism prevented the October meeting from issuing a joint statement.
Lavrov also called for a broader Eurasian security architecture based on mutual respect, sovereign equality and security guarantees for all. He said regional conflicts should be resolved by tackling their root causes through cooperation among the countries directly involved, and repeated Moscow's opposition to an expanded military presence by outside powers in strategically sensitive areas.