The Yabloko faction supports Russia’s stance on military actions in Afghanistan, said Deputy Head of the Yabloko faction in the State Duma Sergei Ivanenko in an interview with journalists on Monday, October 8, 2001.

“Russia made the right decision - political participation in the international coalition” said Ivanenko.

Ivanenko also noted that in this situation the Yabloko faction supported the actions of President Putin.

At the same time Ivanenko warned that the situation in the region had been changing constantly and that the main political task today was “to prevent any escalation of the military actions both in the region and the world in general.”

According to Ivanenko, the military situation in Afghanistan represented for Russia “first and foremost an issue of national security”. The region directly borders on Russia, therefore the most important task for the country at present is to reinforce the Uzbek-Tajik border.

“Our task is to provide support to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan”, added the Deputy head of the Yabloko faction. He also noted that negotiations on Russia’s military participation in the protection of Uzbekistan’s and Tadjikistan’s borders may take place.

Ivanenko also said that the second problem for Russia in connection with the operation in Afghanistan was a humanitarian problem and primarily the problem of refugees. Russia has to be prepared to confront and resolve this problem.

He also stressed that it was important for Russia to help to the Northern Alliance and that the aid should be provided “irrespective of the financial conditions”.

Ivanenko also expressed his hope that “the USA realise what they do” will not allow for civilian victims in Afghanistan.

In addition Ivanenko thinks that it is very important to prevent any interpretation of the conflict as religious or ethnic.

Based on Interfax reports.

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