HELSINKI. Feb 19 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian troops will not take part in the international coalition's operation in Afghanistan, said Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.
"We remain on our previous position: our contingent has not taken part and will not take part in the operation in Afghanistan," Serdyukov told journalists in Helsinki on Friday.
Russia has allowed the international coalition to transit cargo through its territory to Afghanistan, he said.
"We are training specialists for the Afghan Interior Ministry and Defense Ministry in our country. We have received a request for shipping weapons and military hardware [to Afghanistan], and we are considering it now," he said.