[Note: The U.S.-Russia Working Group is chaired by Richard Armitage, U.S. deputy secretary of state, and Vyacheslav Ivanovich Trubnikov, first deputy foreign minister of Russia.]

Moscow

September 19, 2001

U.S.-RUSSIA WORKING GROUP ON AFGHANISTAN JOINT STATEMENT

The U.S.-Russia Working Group on Countering Threats from Afghanistan, chaired by Richard Armitage, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, and Vyacheslav Ivanovich Trubnikov, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, held an extraordinary session at the initiative of the Russian side on September 19, 2001, in Moscow.

The Russian side expressed its condolences and sincere sympathies to the U.S. representatives in connection with the significant human losses resulting from unprecedented terrorist acts committed on Sept. 11, 2001, in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. The U.S. side expressed its appreciation in this regard.

Having resolutely condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the sides noted their readiness to counter effectively this challenge by uniting efforts of all states, in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter. In this connection, the Russian side expressed its readiness to render all possible support to the United States. The sides spoke in favor of creating a broad antiterrorist coalition of all countries interested in fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

The U.S. side set forth in detail the status of its investigation into the terrorist attacks and current U.S. strategy in its fight against the global terrorist infrastructure, giving special attention to the threat represented by Osama bin Laden and the Al Qaida organization.

In accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1333 (2000), agreement was reached to further enhance joint and parallel efforts to counter threats coming from the Taliban in Afghanistan. It was emphasized that such a fight should not be a one-time effort nor spontaneous in its nature, but rather be based on a comprehensive and long-term basis, in the interest of stamping out this universal evil [of terrorism] as a phenomenon.

The U.S. and Russia will continue mutual consultations on the subject, including in the course of the forthcoming regular meeting of the U.S.-Russia Working Group on Afghanistan, which is planned for October-November of this year.