OREANDA-NEWS. June 25, 2008. Ashkhabad hosts the international meeting to combat illicit drug trafficking through sea ports.

The first international meeting to combat illicit drug trafficking through sea ports that brought together the experts from the Caspian states and the international organisations started its work in Ashkhabad.

The experts representing five Caspian states, the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), OSCE, the Central Asia Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) take part in the forum organized under the Paris Pact Initiative by the State Service on Drugs of Turkmenistan in collaboration with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Turkmenistan. The participants of the meeting include the heads of the diplomatic missions accredited to Turkmenistan and the large international organisations, the law enforcement officers, the national ministries and departments concerned and journalists.

On behalf of the President of Turkmenistan Vice Premier M. Yazmuhammedova congratulated on the opening of the forum and read out the Turkmen leader’s welcoming statement to participants. “Drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking is one of the most complicated and tough problems the world faces today. Illicit drug trafficking that threatens every country and the whole world and became an issue of common concern can be combated through concerting efforts of all the countries and international organisations. Like other Central Asian states Turkmenistan considers the decisive and uncompromising struggle against this evil to be a priority of the national policy and adheres to the international commitments.”

On behalf of UNODC Head Antonio Mario Costa UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia Mr. James Callahan expressed special gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for an active position and overall support of the Paris Pact Initiative. Those speaking at the forum focused on the role that the State Coordination Commission to Combat Drug Abuse under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan and established in early 2008 the State Service on Drugs of Turkmenistan played in combating illicit drug trafficking, detecting, preventing and clearing crimes in this field.

The participants noted that Turkmenistan resolutely supported any constructive initiatives and actions to combat illicit drug trafficking. Being an active participant to the relevant international agreements in 1996 Turkmenistan joined three UN conventions on control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Turkmenistan implemented the 2006-2010 National Programme to Combat Illicit Drug Trafficking and Rehabilitate Drug Addicts and carried on the large-scale drug abuse prevention and control activity. The healthcare and educational institutions, the public organisations, members the Galkynysh National Movement were involved along with the law enforcement agencies in implementing the Programme.

The law enforcement agencies carried on the task-oriented work to eradicate this evil. The competent agencies were supplied with advanced equipment and technologies: X-ray and computer equipment, guard and patrol boats, vehicles and other facilities. The customs and frontier checkpoints were supplied with up-to-date equipment. The classes and trainings were regularly conducted at the training centres.

Inclusion of Turkmenbashi sea port in the container ship control programme that was successfully implemented in different countries worldwide including Pakistan, Ecuador, Ghana, Senegal was a focus of the discussions. For these purposes a series of consultations and talks would be held

Noting the paramount importance of continuing joint activity the participants stressed the necessity to intensify the potential of co-operation to fulfill the tasks to suppress illicit drug trafficking set to the region and the world.