OREANDA-NEWS. November 09, 2010. Masood Karimipur, Regional Representative for United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) arrived in the Turkmen capital.

The programme of the visit of the regional senior official of the UN agency to Ashgabat included the meetings at several ministries and departments, in particular the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and law enforcement agencies of Turkmenistan. A focus of the discussions were the approaches to enhancing further cooperation between Turkmenistan and the UNODC to support international efforts to counter and effectively control the spread of narcotics and prevent drug trafficking. During the next few days Mr. Masood Karimipur will have several meetings a number of ministries and departments of Turkmenistan to exchange views on priority issues.

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David Slinn, Head of the Afghan Drugs and Justice Unit of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and an official of the organisation for combating organized crime Mark Bishop are on a visit in Ashgabat. The guests were received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and law enforcement agencies of Turkmenistan.

During the talks emphasis was put on Turkmenistan’s active and constructive contribution to countering global challenges of illicit drug trafficking and international organized crime. The meeting participants discussed the measures for coordinating efforts in this area and called for further expansion of cooperation within the framework of relevant international target programmes.

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A high-level delegation of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG) mission is on a visit in Turkmenistan.

The EAG delegation consisting of experts and specialists in financial monitoring and management was received at the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, where the guests were briefed on the progress in implementing and the key vectors of large-scale reforms initiated by the national leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to ensure the progress of the Turkmen state and society. Emphasis was put on Turkmenistan’s active efforts to update national legislation, develop the institutional framework for the national mechanisms for combating money laundering and terrorist financing as well as the prospects for cooperation in particular fields.

The EAG delegation was received at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance where the discussions of the particular aspects of cooperation and mutually beneficial exchange of experiences, which would be continued during meetings at a number of ministries and departments scheduled for this week, took place.

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These visits vividly illustrate that put country builds up international cooperation in addressing global challenges including illicit drug trafficking, international terrorism, money laundering that reflects the intransigence of the leadership of our country that stands for uniting all mankind to combat these global threats.

As consistent with the priorities of the policy pursued by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the country demonstrates to the international community its commitment to international norms and standards. Turkmenistan takes consistent steps to comprehensively intensify partnership, concert efforts of nations and international organisations to perform a noble mission of tackling challenges facing the humanity today.

By enhancing international partnerships, our country takes actions to combat illicit trafficking and drug smuggling. An illustration of the effectiveness of these efforts can be the actions of burning narcotics confiscated by law enforcement agencies. These actions are held regularly in the locality of Kasamly Julge.

Significant importance is attached to active cooperation with other states, international organisations working in this field, including the UNODC. Global challenges of drug trafficking, international terrorism and money laundering that pose a real threat to security can be addressed only together by concerting efforts adequate to this evil.

The meetings held in the Turkmen capital testify once again to the importance of Turkmenistan’s initiatives that contribute profoundly to countering global threats to humanity and aim to ensure security in the region and worldwide.