Moscow: Russia`s lower house of Parliament is considering formal ratification of an agreement with the United States that has allowed the US military to ferry troops and supplies for military operations in Afghanistan across
Russian territory.
The State Duma is set to vote later today on the 2009 deal, which has already been implemented pending the ratification.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the State Duma that there have been 780 US flights over Russia since September 2009. He said they carried 115,000 American troops and more than 19,000 metric tons of cargo to and from Afghanistan.
Ryabkov said the air route over Russia has accounted for 16 percent of all US military shipments to and from Afghanistan. Russia has touted the deal as a key contribution to international efforts to stabilise Afghanistan.
PTI
