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The 55th session of the Subcommittee on Drug Trafficking and Related Issues in the Near and Middle East has opened in Ashgabat, ORIENT correspondent reports. The event, which will last until November 25, is organized by the Government of Turkmenistan jointly with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The meeting is attended by about 40 delegates from 11 countries – Turkey, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Switzerland, Austria, Jordan, Bahrain, UAE, France, as well as representatives of international organizations.

Within a few days, the participants will discuss regional and sub-regional cooperation in the field of combating drug trafficking, consider trends in methods of hiding them.

Thematic sessions also include discussions on topics such as the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs, including the safe handling of them and their precursors, alternative measures of conviction for drug-related crimes.

Turkmenistan has identified the fight against drug trafficking as one of the priorities in its policy. Speaking at the Forum, the UN Permanent Coordinator in Turkmenistan Dmitry Shlapachenko highly appreciated the country's efforts in this area.

Thus, the Roadmap of Cooperation between Turkmenistan and UNODC for 2022-2025 was adopted. It will contribute to the effective implementation of the UNODC Program for Central Asia for 2022-2025. The program was signed in November last year in Tashkent and fully complies with national priorities and Sustainable Development Goals.

The UNODC Regional Representative in Central Asia, Ashita Mittal, expressed hope for the continuation of joint activities to achieve a common goal in ensuring the security of the population of Central Asia and strengthening peace and security, as well as respect for human rights.

At the end of the Forum, the participants will adopt an Annual Report.

ORIENT news
Photo: mfa.gov.tm

Photo: mfa.gov.tm