Posted on 12/28/2005 2:27:47 PM PST by HAL9000
Karim Rahimi, the spokesman for the Afghan president, said yesterday the Afghan government might demand that Russia compensate for the ten-year-long occupation of the country by the Soviet troops. The idea was voiced in Afghanistan before but never on the official level. Sources of Kommersant at the Russian Foreign Ministry state that Kabul mentioned the compensation in response to Moscow’s move to discuss the repayment of Afghanistan’s $10 billion debt for the USSR.Karim Rahimi made the statement in an interview with the Chinese Xinhua news agency timed to an anniversary of the Soviet-led invasion in Afghanistan. A special group of the Soviet KGB stormed the palace of Amin in Kabul 26 years ago triggering the 10-year war which Russian authorities widely view as a major political mistake of the Soviet leadership.
Answering the question whether Afghanistan was going to demand that Moscow pay compensation, the presidential spokesman said: “The Government of Afghanistan is considering the issue.” Karim Rahimi underscored that “the collapse of Afghanistan started with the Soviet invasion, which totally destroyed the political, economic and social infrastructure of the country.” He also mentioned millions Afghans killed during the war.
The statement came as a surprise for Russian diplomats, especially after friendly declarations Afghan President Hamid Karzai made last week. “Afghanistan favors the intensification of bilateral good-neighbor relations with the Russian Federation,” he said at the first session of the Afghan Parliament on December 19.
A source of Kommersant at the Russian Foreign Ministry claims that the question of the compensation was raised as an answer to Russia’s decision to recognize Afghanistan’s $10 billion debt before the USSR. Moscow, however, offers to restructure it scaling back the payment to a minimum sum. The matter was discussed at the meeting of Russian Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin and his Afghan counterpart Anwar Ul Haq Ahady in the United States but no decision was made.
Moscow was in a hurry to settle the issue before the first session of the Afghan parliament. However, the Parliament has already convened and it is now to decide on the debt before the Soviet Union.
What's Afgan for "Fat chance?"
"Afghanistan Wants Russia to Pay for Occupation"
Some of the reservists we sent over there must be lawyers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.