OREANDA-NEWS. July 30, 2009. Following negotiations the presidents of Russia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan issued a joint statement.

In it the state leaders stressed their concern at the increase in drug trafficking and called on the international community to take further steps in helping the Government of Afghanistan combat the drug menace.

The presidents recognised the special importance of expanding and strengthening mutually beneficial economic cooperation and noted the need for consistent implementation of the agreements reached at the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organisation] summit in Yekaterinburg in June 2009.

At the end of the quadripartite meeting Dmitry Medvedev, Emomali Rahmon, Asif Ali Zardari and Hamid Karzai issued press statements.