MOSCOW. Sept 9 (Interfax) - Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov has declined to say whether Russia will be represented at the ceremony to swear in Afghanistan's new government.
As the Taliban, banned in Russia, are due to hold the inauguration of the new Afghan government on September 11, journalists asked Peskov on Thursday whether the Kremlin views this choice of date as a provocation and whether it is already clear who will represent Russia at the ceremony.
"You know that Russia is in no hurry with recognition. Like the overwhelming majority of countries, we prefer to closely watch what first steps this new government is going to take. As regards the choice of date, we will refrain from any comments here. It was announced yesterday that the formation of this government had been completed. There is nothing more to add at this point. What counts most are the concrete steps that follow. This is what we are very closely watching now," Peskov said in response to the relevant question.