Moscow demands transparent NATO mandate

MOSCOW - Russia demanded full transparency for the NATO mandate in Afghanistan beyond 2014, Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said in an interview published Tuesday.

"We insist on the need to inform the UN Security Council (UNSC) regularly about the NATO plans on a future operation in Afghanistan," Gatilov told the Interfax news agency.

The size and objectives of that operation must be sanctioned by the UNSC, he said. "In a case where the mandate of the following NATO operation in Afghanistan after 2014 is not endorsed by the UNSC, it could create obstacles for (Russia's) further cooperation with NATO," Gatilov said.

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is to be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

Gatilov highlighted Moscow's concern over what will happen in Afghanistan following ISAF's withdrawal.

"We record activation of the armed opposition in the areas where the responsibility was taken over (by the local authorities)," he said, adding Afghan government forces must increase their combat abilities.

Gatilov said the UN role in an Afghan settlement should increase as the ISAF role gradually faded.