Community partnership is key to combating narcotics

New York, Mar. 21 (BNA): The Governor of the Southern Governorate, Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa the member of the National Anti-doping Committee and chairman of "MAAN" (Together we combat violent crime and drug addiction Programme) stressed the importance of community partnership in combating addiction and crime in line with the directives of the Interior Minister citing the ceaseless efforts exerted by the relevant national agencies. The governor chaired a workshop held on the side-lines of the Kingdom's participation in the 59th Meeting of the UN Organisation on Drug Control (UNODC) which began on March 13 attended by the Director of Geneva-based UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Yuri Fedotov, the UN Representative on drug combating for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, the Director of Anti-drug Criminal Data Centre in the GCC countries and the directors of the relevant departments in GCC countries alongside with the participating delegations. The workshop included showcasing the Kingdom's national efforts in combating drugs and their mental impact, especially regarding the National Strategy on Combating Drugs, Together programme, a photographic show. The workshop shed light on the GCC countries efforts in combating drugs and their mental effects as well as major cases recently foiled besides public awareness programmes undertaken by the GCC-member States. Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa expressed his hope that the meeting has provided a good opportunity for GCC countries to boost their joint cooperation mechanisms, adding that such meetings are considered a platform to exchange knowledge, practical experiences, scientific expertise and strategies pertaining to combating drugs.