Russia loses to Slovenia, left without final -football.

MARIBOR, Slovenia, November 19 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian national
football team has failed to reach the final of the 2010 football
championship to be held in South Africa.
The Russians lost to the Slovenians in the second match 0-1. That
result suited the hosts who lost their away match in Moscow on November 14.

.Russian, Slovenian presidents discuss bilateral relations.

MARIBOR, Slovenia, November 19 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev and his Slovenian counterpart Danilo Turk had a brief
conversation on Wednesday. The two presidents met in an interval of a
football match between Russian and Slovenian national teams.
According to the Russian president's spokeswoman Natalya Timakova, the
presidents discussed bilateral relations, including cooperation on the
South Stream project.
"Besides, the leaders discussed plans for future bilateral contacts
such as a possible visit to Russia by the president of Slovenia," Timakova
went on to say.
For his part, the Slovenian president said he was glad to meet Dmitry
Medvedev. "We are pleased with how our contacts are developing," he said.
Turk noted that Medvedev had arrived in Maribor from Stockholm where
the Russia-EU summit was held.
"We are pleased that Russia's relations with the European Union are
developing. When we held the EU presidency, we tried to improve these
relations, and we are glad that this process continues," the Slovenian
president said.

.Russian FM to be present at Karzai's inauguration.

MOSCOW, November 19 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov has arrived in Afghanistan for the inauguration of the newly
elected President Hamid Karzai. On Thursday, he will discuss ways of the
Afghan settlement with Afghan leaders and other foreign guests who have
arrived for the inauguration. They include the foreign ministers of
several NATO states, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British
Foreign Secretary David Miliband and NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh
Rasmussen.
The main topics for discussion are the situation in Afghanistan, ways
of bringing it back to normal, counteraction to the drug threat and
questions linked to the international presence in Afghanistan.
Analysts note serious deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan,
especially in the sphere of security. Incoming reports about terror
strikes, deaths of members of the international contingent and civilian
casualties have increased debates on whether international presence should
be preserved in this troubled spot and on the need to specify the deadline
for pulling out the military contingent from Afghanistan.
Britain has suggested convening an international conference on
Afghanistan in January 2010.
How to transfer control over the situation in Afghanistan to the
Afghan people is also being considered. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov believes that the terrorist threat should be prevented and the drug
threat coming from Afghanistan should be eradicated.
"Ideally, this should be achieved by strengthening the law enforcement
and the army in Afghanistan. So far the army, the police and other force
structures are unprepared to solve these tasks independently, " Lavrov
said.
The Russian side is particularly concerned with an increased number of
drugs coming from Afghanistan. According to the Russian Federal Service
for control of narcotic substances (FSKN), Russia has become the main
market for Afghan opiates. Modern Afghanistan is producing more drugs that
the whole world did ten years ago.
"Russia actively supports the world community and its efforts designed
to improve the situation in Afghanistan. However, despite the
reinforcement of the security, defense and law enforcement agencies in
Afghanistan, the efficiency of struggle against illegal trade in drugs
remains extremely low," says Viktor Ivanov, the FSKN director.
The transit of cargoes for the coalition forces via the Russian
territory may also be considered during Lavrov's visit. Russia agreed to
grant an air corridor for the transition of cargoes for the coalition
during the July visit to Moscow of U.S. President Barack Obama. However,
only one transit flight has actually taken place. The sides are discussing
the details of the second flight.

.Medvedev sad about Russia's football loss.

MARIBOR, Slovenia, November 19 (Itar-Tass) - Like all Russian football
fans President Dmitry Medvedev is disappointed with Wednesday's match
between the national football teams of Russia and Slovenia. The Russians
lost it 0-1 and would miss the 2010 world championship in South Africa.
However, the Russian president hopes the team would be more successful
in future.
"Of course, I supported the team, I was uptight about the game and
hoped that our team will be able to turn the tide on the field. Naturally,
I am disappointed like all our fans," Medvedev said, sharing his
impressions of the match.
At the same time, the Russian president said that sport is not all
about mastery, a lot depends on luck. "Today, luck was on the Slovenian
side," he said.
Medvedev wished the Russian players to improve their game. " I am sure
that our athletes have many bright moments ahead," he emphasized.

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