(All quotes are transcribed from the original English)
MOSCOW/BRUSSELS. Nov 15 (Interfax) - Washington's plans to purchase helicopters from Russia for U.S. forces in Afghanistan have nothing to do with NATO's helicopter package, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder told Interfax.
"The U.S. is buying helicopters from Russia. But this is a different issue; this is the U.S. issue. It has nothing to do with what is happening. The Secretary General requested assistance, and Russia will have to decide whether it will provide any helicopters," Daalder said.
Earlier, Washington said it was interested in buying a batch of military transport helicopters from Russia for the Afghan army.
U.S. Under Secretary of State For Political Affairs William Burns told Interfax that the U.S. was also considering purchasing an additional amount of Mil Mi-17 helicopters from Russia.
These helicopters suit Afghanistan's conditions well and Afghans are familiar with them, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told Interfax.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen also came up with an initiative earlier to purchase Russian-made helicopters for NATO forces operating in Afghanistan.
"The NATO secretary general has asked Russia to provide helicopters to the Afghans, and we are still looking to see whether it is possible. What we will be looking at down the line is, in Lisbon, to hopefully set up a trust fund in order to help train and maintain helicopters," Ivo Daalder said.
"It [the trust fund] will be funded voluntarily by all members of the NRC [NATO-Russia Council], and it will be opened too to all 29 members. And everyone will make a decision as to what they would contribute, whether it will be in-kind, trainers, or spare parts," he said.
Asked how many helicopters could be supplied under this agreement and whether reports that Russia is willing to provide several helicopters free of charge are true, Daalder said that "this is the issue for Russia to decide."
For the full version of Daalder's interview, visit www.interfax.com.