SOCHI. Oct 22 (Interfax) - Russia is close to making a decision to remove the Taliban (banned in Russia) from its list of terrorist organizations, but not before the UN Security Council does so first, President Vladimir Putin said.
"The fact is, such decisions were made at the UN level," Putin told the Valdai Discussion Club on Thursday.
Everything now hinges on how positive further developments will be in Afghanistan, he said. "Depending on this, we will be in solidarity and will make a decision on their removal from the list of terrorist organizations. I think we are getting close to it," Putin said.
"Russia's position will be to move in this very direction. Still, these decisions must be made in the same way and manner as when we placed that movement on the list of terrorist organizations," Putin said.
Russia is cooperating with Taliban representatives, invites them to Moscow and maintains contact with them in Afghanistan proper, the president said.
As well the Pashtuns., who make up a larger part of the Taliban, the country also has other ethic groups, including Tajiks, Uzbeks and the Hazaras, he said.
"Yes, I know, of course, there are representatives of these groups in the current leadership, in the government, but not in senior roles, and people are seeking to occupy a significant place in the system of governing the country, and this balance must be struck," Putin said.