Russia wants to create anti-drug belt around Afghanistan : Kislyak

Moscow, Apr 21 (UNI) Stressing that international measures to prevent the flow of illegal drugs from Afghanistan have failed, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak today said an ''anti-drug security belt'' should be created around the country.

''Despite all the measures that have been taken and the international presence in Afghanistan, 90 per cent of the opium in the world still comes from Afghanistan,''Mr Kislyak said at an international global security conference here ahead of G-8 summit in St Petersburg, in July, to be held for the first time under the rotating Russian presidency.

He said Afghan drugs posed a ''tremendous problem'' for Russia.''Not only are we a transit country for Afghan drugs, but a large proportion of these drugs stays within Russia,'' Kislyak noted.

UNI XC SY KN2138