Russia fears Talib influence will spread to Tajikistan

Tuesday, January 18, 2000 10:53 AM EST

MOSCOW, January 18 (Itar-Tass) - The Taliban movement of Afghanistan has re-identified its aggressive intentions by decision to recognize Chechnya as an independent state.

"We should take account of the fact that the Taliban movement does not confine its aggressive plans to Afghan internal borders," Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said at a meeting with the U.N Secretary General's special envoy in Tajikistan, Ivo Petrov, on Tuesday.

"Tajikistan is located in a dangerous zone of possible Talib influence. We should continue our cooperation with the United Nations, for the situation in Tajikistan provides an example of how complicated problems can be settled by joint efforts via international assistance," Ivanov went on to say.

"The peace process in Tajikistan is moving in the right direction, the process of implementing the peace agreements is under way. It is important that these efforts be continued. The more so, that the region itself is so explosive," Ivanov stressed.