DUSHANBE, August 31, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- NATO will not leave Afghanistan, until the situation in the country is fully stabilized and international terrorism on Afghan territory is defeated, Mr. Robert Simmons, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia, told reporters in Dushanbe on August 31, following his meeting with President Emomali Rahmon.

In spite of some countries’ opinion, the North Atlantic Alliance plays  constructive role in Afghanistan, Mr. Simmons said.  He noted he had expressed gratitude to President Rahmon for Tajikistan’s support for transit of nonmilitary cargo to Afghanistan and permission for use of Tajikistan’s airspace by NATO for response to humanitarian needs in Afhganistan.

According to him, they also discussed issues related to cooperation between NATO and Tajikistan within the framework of the Partnership for Peace Program (PfP), interaction in combating international terrorism, cooperation for emergency response and providing safety of tailing dumps in Tajikistan.