Russia has an important role to play in...

"Combating drug-trafficking in Afghanistan is one of the very important elements in ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan," Ban said in an exclusive interview.

Ban is due in Moscow on March 17, two days ahead of the meeting of the Quartet of international mediators in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

"Russia has very important role to play in helping the Afghan government," he went on. "I"m going to discuss this matter with the Russian leadership."

The UN head also said that the "gross export of opiates" from the war-ravaged state fell by 18% in 2009.

"We"ll continue to work with the Afghan government and other members of the international community to eradicate drugs," he went on, adding that "we are trying to expand to provide some alternate farming opportunities to the Afghan people."

Afghanistan produces more than 90% of the world"s opium, the main raw material for heroin and a major source of revenue for the Taliban-led insurgency in

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