ECO HOLDS MEETING ON DRUG CONTROL

Tehran -- The first meeting of National Focal Points (NFP) of the Drug
Control Coordination Unit (DCCU) of the Economic Cooperation Organization
(ECO) Secretariat was held in the ECO secretariat on Tuesday, said a press
release issued by ECO secretariat in Tehran.

According to the press release, the meeting opened with a speech by ECO
Secretary General Bekzhassar Narbayev which was read by his deputy.

In his message, Narbayev welcomed the guests from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan,
Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

"He described anti-narcotics measures an important corner stone of ECO
secretariat's activity and expressed his confidence that the meeting would
serve as a beginning towards sharing the experience and strengthening
cooperation in anti-narcotics activities in ECO region.

"Secretary general also thanked the UN Office on drugs and Crime (UNODC)
and the EU for their assistance and support to ECO in the subject
activity," it added.

The report said that he also stated that Drug Control is not merely a law
enforcement issue but also a development issue, therefore the need to curb
its spread is being factored in by the ECO.

According to the report, Deputy Secretary General of the Drug Control
Headquarters Mojtaba Jebel Ameli in his statement said, "Participation of
representatives of ECO member states in the meeting showed the will of the
region to fight against illicit drug trafficking."

It added that UNODC representatives stated that ECO region had been among
the priority areas of UNODC for support against drug trafficking and that
was the reason why UNODC supported the establishment of a DCCU in the ECO
secretariat with funding from EU.

"Each delegation head made an opening presentation which would be discussed
by the meeting in its next session. Senior ranking anti-narcotics officials
have come from the capital of the ECO member states to participate in the
meeting.

"The meeting will continue until tomorrow during which national focal
points (anti-narcotics senior officials) will discuss the drug situation
both in each ECO member state and the region," it added.

The press release said that participants would also decide on the
establishment of the network between DCCU and NFP.

"The network is designed to help exchange drug-related information speedily
and strengthen coordination between ECO member-states in anti-narcotics
matter," concluded the press release.