Russian news agency Interfax
December 6

zbek President Islam Karimov has called on the international community "to immediately begin the economic rehabilitation of Afghanistan".

"It is important to put Afghanistan on the road to peaceful life as soon as possible," Karimov told the press in Tashkent on Thursday [6 December]. "People will develop a taste for peaceful activities, and will not take up arms again."

"It is impossible to begin measures against terrorist centres in other countries before the end of the anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan," the president said.

He also noted the drug problem in Afghanistan. "The population of that country is used to growing opium [poppies], and extraordinary measures are necessary to make farmers stop doing that. Extra subsidies should be given to encourage the development of agriculture," Karimov said.

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