26 Apr 2013 12:00

Afghanistan to face new challenges soon - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister

ALMATY. April 26 (Interfax) - Afghanistan will face new challenges in the short term, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov said.

"As to the situation in Afghanistan amid the degrading military and political situation and presidential election coming in April 2014, it is absolutely obvious to us that new challenges will emerge in the short term," Morgulov said at the third ministerial conference of the Istanbul Process on Regional Security and Cooperation for a Secure and Stable Afghanistan held in Almaty on Friday.

"Unfortunately, we are to conclude that the process of national reconciliation in the country is virtually hanging around," the Russian deputy minister said.