Tashkent hosts a meeting to Strengthen Cooperation in Countering Drug Trafficking in the Near and Middle East.

Tashkent hosts a meeting to Strengthen Cooperation in Countering Drug Trafficking in the Near and Middle East.

The world drug problem remains a common and shared responsibility that should be addressed in a multilateral setting through effective and increased international cooperation and demands an integrated, multidisciplinary, mutually reinforcing, balanced, scientific evidence-based and comprehensive approach. While tangible progress has been achieved in some fields, the world drug problem continues to present challenges to the health, safety and well-being of all humanity. 

Representatives from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Germany, India, Italy, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, UK, USA, Uzbekistan and Yemen, as well as experts from various international organizations have met in Tashkent for the 54th Session of the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East. 

This is the first time Uzbekistan is hosting the Subcommission session. The Subcommission was established by resolution 6 (XXV) of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and by ECOSOC resolution 1776 (LIV) in 1973. The Subcommission session participants are interested in resolving national and international efforts and further increasing international cooperation to face drug-related challenges.

At the opening ceremony of the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov noted the importance of the international cooperation in countering drug trafficking.

At the event, participants will discuss and exchange views on the importance of exchange of actionable intelligence and role of regional cooperation platforms in facilitating this exchange, trafficking in synthetic opioids and synthetic cannabinoids and measures to counter this trafficking, record levels of the opiate production and related challenges, as well as on practical measures tailored to the specific needs of children and youth to prevent and treat drug abuse among them. 

During the five days, the Subcommission Member States jointly with the National Information-Analytical Centre on Drug Control under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan will discuss current situation with respect to regional and subregional cooperation in the area of illicit drug traffic and related issues. 

Following the meeting, the Subcommission will adopt the report on its fifty-fourth session, including the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the working groups.