Russia, other states can stop bloodshed in Afghanistan -view

MOSCOW, February 1 (Itar-Tass) - The efforts taken by Russia and other countries under U.N. Security Council resolutions on the Taleban movement can stop bloodshed and ensure peace in Afghanistan, Afghan Ambassador to Russia Abdul Wahab Assefi said.

In an exclusive interview with Itar-Tass on Thursday, the ambassador said that democratic Russia as one of the great powers plays an effective role in settling the Afghan conflict.

"We hope that all sides interested in normalising the situation in Afghanistan are capable of influencing the inter- Afghan settlement," the diplomat said.

He described the imposition of additional sanctions against the Taleban movement approved by the U.N. Security Council in December 2000 on Russia and the U.S. initiative as a "historic event".

For the first time U.N. member-countries showed unanimity and agreed to work out a coordinating position on terrorism, he added.