Russia may cooperate on Afghanistan

MOSCOW - President Dmitry Medvedev said yesterday that Moscow is ready to help stabilize the situation in Afghanistan by allowing the United States and others to allow cargo for coalition forces there to be shipped across Russia.

Medvedev said that Russia also is prepared to help international efforts to combat drug-trafficking and terrorism in Afghanistan.

During his visit yesterday to Afghanistan's neighbor Uzbekistan, Medvedev voiced hope that President Obama's administration will do better than its predecessors in stabilizing Afghanistan.

"Let's hope the new US administration will be more successful than the previous one in dealing with the Afghan settlement," Medvedev said on TV.

Medvedev's comments appeared to reflect the Kremlin's wish to mend ties with Washington.

US State Department spokesman Robert Wood said, "We certainly look forward to working with Russia on Afghanistan."

ASSOCIATED PRESS