(RTTNews) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has congratulated Hamid Karzai on his re-election as president of Afghanistan and expressed Kremlin's willingness to continue to help in establishing democracy, promote a just and lasting peace in the country, and improve its socio-economic situation.

In his congratulatory message, President Medvedev said Moscow would extend "multifaceted cooperation" with the war-torn land-locked country and work in the interests of peace and stability in the region.

Medvedev wrote that he was confident that "friendly Russian-Afghan relations and multifaceted cooperation between our two countries will be further developed for the benefit of the peoples of both countries and in the interests of peace and stability in the region."
Karzai was declared the winner of Afghanistan's presidential elections Monday when officials scrapped the second round of voting following the withdrawal of his opponent, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah.

Abdullah had wanted the removal of key election officials before taking part in the November 7 run-off, which Karzai had agreed to after international pressure following allegations of widespread fraud in the first round.

by RTT Staff Writer

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