Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has met with newly elected Afghan President Hammid Karzai ahead of his inauguration, which is to take place in Kabul on Thursday.

The Russian delegation arrived in Kabul earlier on Thursday.

Lavrov expressed to Karzai congratulations from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and said Russia will continue rendering economic and moral support to Afghanistan and its authorities.

Karzai said in his turn the country is grateful to Russia for its help.

The inauguration ceremony is being held on Thursday in the presidential palace, and will be attended by senior diplomats from the U.K., France, Italy, Canada, Germany, Turkey, Sweden, Lithuania, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, India, the U.A.E., and the U.S. The Russian delegation will also attend.

Ahead of the ceremony, international troops at NATO-led ISAF military bases in Kabul and its outskirts have been put on full combat alert.

Security has been toughened at the offices of international organizations and missions working in Kabul, while all international staff have been recommended to stay indoors.

Karzai was declared the winner of Afghanistan's presidential elections on November 2 when officials scrapped the second round of voting following the withdrawal of his opponent, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah.

KABUL, November 19 (RIA Novosti)