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      Distinguished Ambassador Khojesta Fana Ebrahimkhel,

      Distinguished colleagues,

The Russian Federation and Afghanistan share a rich history of cooperation. In 1919, Russia was the first country to recognize the independence of Afghanistan and to provide the young state with various types of substantial assistance. It was during that period that aspiration of the peoples of the two countries to cultivate friendly and mutually beneficial ties was manifested, the foundation of good-neighbourly relations was laid.

Today Russia is pursuing a consistent policy aimed at facilitating the establishment of Afghanistan as a peaceful, independent and prosperous state, free from terrorism and drugs. Our relations are acquiring new dimensions. Apart from political contacts, military-technical, humanitarian, cultural and educational cooperation, important economic projects are being implemented. I’m confident that all this work will become more effective as the situation in Afghanistan normalizes.

Against the backdrop of the unprecedented coronavirus outbreak Russia delivered humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to contain COVID-19. In June and November Kabul received testing kits for 15,000 tests as well as the agents necessary for preparing samples.

We consider Russia’s multifaceted assistance to Afghanistan’s national industry, energy and agriculture, education and health systems as a contribution to development, women empowerment and livelihoods in this country.

Russia as a responsible donor of international development assistance attaches great importance to partnership with organizations of the UN system in these efforts.

Our country in many ways supports the endeavors of the UNODC to strengthen the counter narcotics capacity of Afghanistan. In particular, we actively develop the cooperation with Japan and the UNODC to establish a canine unit in Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan. The project is aimed at increasing drug seizure capacity of the country. The Russian side provides assistance to this project through conducting of training for the staff and dogs of the canine unit.  Training courses for handlers and dogs are planned to start in May 2021.

Russia provides on a regular basis training for Afghani counter narcotics police officers both within this “trilateral cooperation” of Russia, Japan and the UNODC and under its bilateral project with the UNODC. We’re planning to expand the training courses and to devote one segment to the topic of countering proceeds of drug-related crime.

We also financially support the alternative development project in the province of Badakhshan to help the Afghani farmers and to strengthen and diversify licit livelihoods in order to make the province poppy free.

Another successful partnership is established with UNIDO, our time-tested partner. Together we are successfully developing cooperation on a number of tracks.

As you may know strengthening the role of women in society has become one of the central topics on the international agenda today. Obviously, it is also of major relevance to Afghanistan.

Professional and personal development of women has great potential for overcoming poverty, creating jobs, reducing unemployment and achieving the SDGs. That is why we especially appreciate our dialogue with UNIDO in support of the empowerment of women through economic opportunities, education and training.

Since 2018, Russia has been implementing a global project “UNIDO as a Platform to Promote Women’s Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship”. This initiative intends to give a meaningful content to the abovementioned topic, including through creating a sort of an international educational portal aimed at facilitating access to information related to the existing world best practices for developing women's competencies and leadership.

Russia is ready to continue to share its experience and contribute to relevant international efforts to help create conditions that will allow women to fulfill themselves and to participate in all the spheres of life of their country in an active and effective manner.

      Thank you.