Iran Expects Int'l Community To Back Afghan Plan To Replace Poppy Cultivation With Other Crops

Vienna, March 16, IRNA – Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli on Saturday urged international community to take measures to support the Afghan government to go ahead with development plans to implement the plan to replace poppy cultivation with other crops. Rahmani Fazli made the remarks in the 57th annual session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at the United Nations Office at Vienna. Rahmani Fazli, also head of Iranˈs anti-drugs headquarters voiced concern over activities of violent drug traffickers. Despite significant costs, Iran feels committed to international conventions in the campaign against drug trafficking, Rahmani Fazli said. The Iranian interior minister said that in cooperation with Afghanistan and Pakistan within the framework of trilateral initiative to fight the maritime drug trafficking, Iran has seized nearly 7.5 tons of narcotics of different kinds on maritime trafficking routes last year. Rahmani Fazli noted that over 3,700 Iranian soldiers have lost their lives so far in the fight against drug trafficking./end