POLITICS
5TH BAKU MEETING OF MEMBERS OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) ON SUB-REGIONAL DRUG CONTROL COOPERATION UNDERWAY
In his opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Republic, Chairman of the State Commission on combat against illegal drug circulation Ali Hasanov, noted that the government of Azerbaijan well realizes the global problem of illegal drug circulation and stands ready to undertake serious steps in the further activation of combat against this evil.
Reminding that conducting in Azerbaijan the 5th meeting of members of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Sub-regional Drug Control Cooperation coincided with the historical days, Ali Hasanov said that recently was conducted democratic, transparent and free elections in the Country, and as a result, successor of the founder of the Azerbaijani state Heydar Aliyev, esteemed Ilham Aliyev was elected as President of Azerbaijan Republic.
Underlining that the Country is rich with economic potential and that the Republic is situated at the junction of Europe and Asia, at the crossroads of the transport corridors of East-West, North-South, Mr. Hasanov stressed that after regaining state independence, Azerbaijan established a favorable political environment, conducted were large economic reforms. Due to these reforms, new economic relations and environment of free competition was established in the Republic. He called on the participants of the Meeting to mutually beneficial cooperation not only in combat against illegal drug circulation, but in other spheres, too.
Congratulation letter to the Meeting participants of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was read out by head of the law-enforcement department of President Administration Fuad Alaskarov.
Then, speaking was Mr. Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, who expressed his satisfaction with the Meeting, stressing high hospitality he was shown in Baku. He spoke of the increasing number of members of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Sub-regional Drug Control Cooperation.
The Department, he leads, is combating against significant challenges, described as “soft threats” to nations poverty, man-made disasters, HIV/AIDS, made special emphasis on the need to pursue an integrated approach to drugs, crime and terrorism issues, as well as money laundering, large-scale fraud, attack computer system and others. He informed that the Memo was joined by Russia and Azerbaijan.
It was stated that right organization of the regional cooperation on control over drugs mostly depends on participation of each country in this important issue. Exchange of data on criminal structures requires expansion of international links, cooperation, Mr. Antonio Maria Costa stressed.
Also were speaking at the meeting, deputy foreign minister of Azerbaijan, member of the mentioned State Commission Khalaf Khalafov, Nurlan Abdirov (Kazakhstan), Kurmanbay Kubadbayov (Kyrgyzstan), Aleksey Rogov (Russia), Solohoddin Nasriddinov (Tajikistan), Nuriyagdi Kitayev (Turkmenistan), Kamol Dustmetov (Uzbekistan), Necmi Kanchi Chandami (Agakhan Fund), James Kallakhan (UN regional representative for Central Asia), who spoke of different aspects of the discussed problem.
Meeting is in progress.