ID :
325366
Sat, 04/19/2014 - 10:45
Auther :

Iran, Russia emphasize need to expand anti-narcotics cooperation

Moscow, Apr 19, IRNA – Iran and Russia exchanged ideas on ways to expand cooperation in campaign against narcotic drugs trafficking in a meeting between the Iranian ambassador to Moscow and head of Russian Drug Control Organization here on Friday. Iran, Russia emphasize need to expand anti-narcotics cooperation Ambassador Mahdi Sanaˈie and Victor Ivanov in their meeting referred to the continuous meetings and contacts between the two countriesˈ presidents and expressed hope that the existing level of bilateral cooperation could further expand relying on the political will of both countriesˈ leaders. Ivanov meanwhile referred to the preset day cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation in the region and the world, particularly in the field of campaign against narcotic drugs trafficking and cooperation between police forces, announcing Russiaˈs interest in further expansion of cooperation in such fields. He meanwhile said that his country has tried to hold the ministerial level conference on campaign against narcotic drugs trafficking in Moscow, said that Iran plays a significant role in that respect in the international scene, and expressed hope that the Islamic Republic of Iran would actively participate in that conference. The Russian official referred to the scientific and professional background of the Iranian ambassador regarding his vast motherland, expressing certainty that Ambassador Sanaˈieˈs potentials in that field would provide an appropriate atmosphere as a cradle for the expansion of bilateral cooperation. The Iranian envoy, too, in the meeting referred to the two countriesˈ cooperation in the field of campaign against narcotic drugs trafficking. He also focused on the problems with which Iran is entangled due to the large scale production of narcotic drugs in Afghanistan and its negative effects on the regional and world countries, emphasizing the need for collective efforts aimed at decreasing production and alternative cultivation of other useful crops to replace poppy farming. Ambassador Sanaˈie said that the narcotic drugs trafficking is a global problem for whose solving collective cooperation among the entire world countries, along with strong determination are needed. He referred to the existing cooperation pacts, potentials, and experiences between the two countries, asking for shared efforts aimed at attracting the attention of the other countries to the need to join a basic campaign against narcotic drugs trafficking. Iran, which has a 900-kilometer common border with Afghanistan, has been used by smugglers as the main conduit for smuggling Afghan drugs to narcotics kingpins in Europe. Over the past three decades, the country has spent millions of dollars to seal its borders and prevent the transit of narcotics destined for European, Arab and Central Asian countries. The war on drug trade, a lucrative business originating in Afghanistan, has also claimed the lives of nearly 4,000 Iranian police officers.

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