Paris  - Participants at an international conference on peace and security in Afghanistan, which ended Sunday evening in Paris, described the outcome as positive.

While no resolutions were expected, Afghanistan and its neighbours pledged to work closely on security issues, increase border security and combat drug smuggling, according to a joint statement issued after the meeting.

According to German diplomats, the goal of the conference was to strengthen regional ties, which are necessary to bring peace to Afghanistan.

Paris, Dec. 14 : Envoys from Afghanistan, its neighbours and the world''s great powers are meeting here today to discuss ways to ease Afghanistan's socio-economic crisis.

States around Afghanistan, especially Pakistan and Iran, are likely to be told to help in Kabul''s attempt to regain control of the war ravaged and economically deprived land.

India's Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher and Iran''s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will be some of the participants at the meeting.

Paris  - An international conference on Afghanistan began near Paris Sunday without representation from Iran.

According to French media reports, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki decided shortly before the conference's start not to attend. French sources further noted that no representative of Mottaki had shown.

Tensions between Iran and France, which is hosting the conference, have been building in recent weeks after French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he would neither offer his hand to or share a table with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad owing to Ahmadinejad's antipathy toward Israel.

Iran responded to those comments with warnings of "serious consequences for bilateral relations."

Val d'Isere, France  - Gusty winds and heavy snowfall forced organizers to cancel a men's World Cup slalom ski race on Sunday.

Val d'Isere, France - Carlo Janka of Switzerland claimed his first career victory in alpine skiing on Saturday when he dominated a giant slalom in which local hope Gauthier de Tessieres shot from 30th to third place.

Janka, 22, registered a combined total of 2 minutes 22.73 seconds for his two runs on the hill where the world championship medals will decided in February.

Massimiliano Blardone of Italy was second in 2:22.93 minute while the 27-year-old Frenchman de Tessieres made the most of starting the second run in perfect piste conditions for his first podium in 2:23.17.

Janka is enjoying his best season and managed his first podium two weeks ago when he came second in a downhill in Lake Louise, Canada.

Val d'Isere- Benjamin Raich claimed back-to-back victories in the alpine ski World Cup season when he clinched the men's super-combined in the French resort of Val
d'Isere on Friday.

Raich notched his 32nd World Cup win of his career with a combined time of 2 minutes 2.48 seconds for the super-g and slalom legs.

It gave the 30-year-old Austrian a 34-second lead over Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Grange, with fellow Austrian Marcel Hirscher third (2:03.17).

Raich had won the giant slalom last Sunday in Beaver Creek, Colorado.