VIENNA. Sept 7 (Interfax) - Dialogue with the Taliban (banned in Russia), who have come to power in Afghanistan, is necessary in any case, as ways to minimize the severe humanitarian catastrophe in that country need to be considered, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said.
"Anyway, it's necessary to establish dialogue and to think about what will happen to people there," Matviyenko told reporters on the sidelines of the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Vienna on Tuesday.
"In my opinion, the timing of recognition is a secondary matter. Today, Afghanistan is experiencing a severe humanitarian catastrophe, and the entire global community, especially the countries responsible, should focus on what humanitarian aid, assistance they can provide to people and how to rescue people, women, children," she said.
The first and highest-priority item on the agenda is "minimizing the consequences of this severe humanitarian catastrophe," Matviyenko said.