China, Russia Back a "Coalition Govt" for Afghanistan

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Tuesday October 9 11:45 PM ET (via Yahoo)

China, Russia Back Afghan Coalition Government

BEIJING (Reuters) - China and Russia support the formation of a
coalition government in Afghanistan and share a common stance on a
campaign against terrorism, Chinese state media said on Wednesday.

In a series of telephone calls on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister
Tang Jiaxuan outlined China's positions on Afghanistan, terrorism and
Islam with counterparts from Russia, Qatar, India and Thailand, they
said.

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov told Tang the international
community should support the establishment of `a coalition government
with a wide-ranging basis'' in Afghanistan, according to the People's
Daily.

The Communist Party newspaper quoted Tang saying an Afghan coalition
government which was `able to cooperate with neighboring countries in
a friendly manner'' would benefit the Afghan people and regional
peace and stability.

`China and Russia have the same stance and interests on the issue of
anti-terrorism,'' the newspaper quoted Tang as saying.

China and Russia have both backed a U.S.-led war against terrorism
following the September 11 attacks on the United States due in large
part to their own concerns about Islamic extremist groups.

Analysts say Moscow and Beijing want Western support for their
campaigns against groups they view as terrorists instead of criticism
over human rights abuses.

Tang drew parallels between Moscow's conflict in Chechnya and
Beijing's campaign against Islamic separatists in the northwestern
region of Xinjiang, the People's Daily said.

China said on Tuesday it had shut its narrow, little-used border with
Afghanistan and closed the surrounding area in Xinjiang to
foreigners.

The People's Daily quoted Ivanov as saying the United Nations should
play a greater role in the campaign against terrorism and military
strikes should have clear targets and not spread to other countries.

Tang also spoke by telephone with Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad of
Qatar, which currently heads the 56-member Organization of the
Islamic Conference, state media said.

Islamic nations meeting in Qatar on Wednesday are expected to express
concern that U.S.-British raids on Afghanistan could extend to other
Muslim countries.

Tang noted that Islamic countries were also victims of terrorism and
said China was `clearly opposed to associating terrorism with any
religion, nationality or region.''

Hamad said the Islamic world was opposed to any terrorist activities
but it was necessary to distinguish between terrorism and Islam.

Tang also talked by telephone on Tuesday with Indian Foreign Minister
Jaswant Singh and Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, state
media said without giving details.

 
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