Drug Control Cooperation in Central Asia
By IAR DeskIllegal drugs trade is an enormous problem for the region and one of the main sources of terror financing
On May 2-3, Tashkent hosted the 11th review meeting of the Parties to the Memorandum of Understanding on sub-regional drug control cooperation in Central Asia.
It was attended by delegations of Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Russia, representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Aga Khan Development Network.
Issues related to strengthening cooperation in Central Asia ad on control over the trade in narcotic drugs were the focal points of discussion at the meeting.
On May 2, the meeting was held in roundtable discussion format with participation of experts of the Parties to the Memorandum of Understanding on sub-regional drug control cooperation. The results of actions to combat the cultivation and illicit trade in narcotic drugs were considered as important factors for the emergence of threats of internal and external terrorism in the region. Recommendations were developed for further strengthening regional cooperation in this direction.
The forum continued on May 3 during the meetings of the heads of foreign affairs agencies of the parties to the memorandum.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Araz Azimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Azizbek Madmarov, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan Ovezdurdy Khojaniyazov. SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov attended the event as an honored guest.
Participants of the meeting exchanged views on such issues of the agenda as suppression of trade in narcotic drugs through the trade corridors of the Central Asian countries and the internet, disbursing funds from the illicit trade in narcotic drugs, and preventing them from spending on financing terrorist activities.
Issues of drug abuse prevention, effective treatment of people addicted to drugs, their return to an active lifestyle, raising the young generation in the spirit of intolerance to such evils as drug addiction, and expanding social activities were discussed.
At the meeting, held in a businesslike and constructive spirit, the delegations of the parties to the memorandum expressed a unanimous opinion on the need for developing new approaches to prevent the accelerated development of the illicit market of synthetic drugs, the fight of law enforcement agencies against this crime.
The meet concluded with the adoption of a joint declaration by all sides.
