ID :
13038
Sat, 07/19/2008 - 10:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/13038
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OSCE can help suppress drugs coming from Afghanistan - Moscow
VIENNA, July 19 (Itar-Tass) -- The Organization for Cooperation and
Security in Europe (OSCE) can play a substantial role in the suppression of drugs coming from Afghanistan, head of the Russian delegation to the OSCE drug threat conference and deputy head of the Federal Drug Control Service's investigative department Alexander Shulyakov said on Friday.
He recalled the concept of anti-drug safety belts around Afghanistan.
"Naturally, that would not be a blockade or sanctions. It is the question
of stronger borders and customs control of Afghan neighbors, including
Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union. The OSCE may give
substantial aid to the achievement of this goal, as well as to the
training of national personnel of anti-drug units," he said.
Russia has suggested holding an international conference on the
suppression of precursor trafficking under the aegis of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and with the participation of the
OSCE, Shulyakov said. In his words, the conference may take place this
year.
Precursor contraband is directly linked to the mounting threat of
Afghan drugs, he said. Last year African had a record opium harvest of
almost 820 tonnes in 'the heroin equivalent'. The number of illegal drug
labs in Afghanistan has become so large that the country can process into
heroin up to two-thirds of the collected opium. Large-scale production of
heroin is impossible without large batches of smuggled precursors, such as
acetic anhydride, chlorine hydride and acetone.
Alas, the amount of seized precursors is rather modest, Shulyakov
said. He voiced hope that UN Security Council resolution 1817 adopted a
month ago would help stop the contraband of precursors to Afghanistan.
Russia was a co-author of the resolution.
"In our opinion, the next logical step is the implementation of the
Russian initiative to make chemical marking of precursors by their
exporters. For instance, the UN convention binds the mandatory marking of
all plastic explosives, and no one has objections," the official said.
Heroin and opiates remain the key concern of Russia. Another concern
is the supplies of synthetic drugs from Central and Southern Europe and
the Baltic republics, Shulyakov said.
In his words, measures taken by the Federal Drug Control Service had
brought positive results. The growth of drug addiction in Russia has
slowed down, and the number of people who take narcotic drugs from twice
or thrice a month to daily dropped by 800,000 in 2004-2007, he said.
Security in Europe (OSCE) can play a substantial role in the suppression of drugs coming from Afghanistan, head of the Russian delegation to the OSCE drug threat conference and deputy head of the Federal Drug Control Service's investigative department Alexander Shulyakov said on Friday.
He recalled the concept of anti-drug safety belts around Afghanistan.
"Naturally, that would not be a blockade or sanctions. It is the question
of stronger borders and customs control of Afghan neighbors, including
Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union. The OSCE may give
substantial aid to the achievement of this goal, as well as to the
training of national personnel of anti-drug units," he said.
Russia has suggested holding an international conference on the
suppression of precursor trafficking under the aegis of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and with the participation of the
OSCE, Shulyakov said. In his words, the conference may take place this
year.
Precursor contraband is directly linked to the mounting threat of
Afghan drugs, he said. Last year African had a record opium harvest of
almost 820 tonnes in 'the heroin equivalent'. The number of illegal drug
labs in Afghanistan has become so large that the country can process into
heroin up to two-thirds of the collected opium. Large-scale production of
heroin is impossible without large batches of smuggled precursors, such as
acetic anhydride, chlorine hydride and acetone.
Alas, the amount of seized precursors is rather modest, Shulyakov
said. He voiced hope that UN Security Council resolution 1817 adopted a
month ago would help stop the contraband of precursors to Afghanistan.
Russia was a co-author of the resolution.
"In our opinion, the next logical step is the implementation of the
Russian initiative to make chemical marking of precursors by their
exporters. For instance, the UN convention binds the mandatory marking of
all plastic explosives, and no one has objections," the official said.
Heroin and opiates remain the key concern of Russia. Another concern
is the supplies of synthetic drugs from Central and Southern Europe and
the Baltic republics, Shulyakov said.
In his words, measures taken by the Federal Drug Control Service had
brought positive results. The growth of drug addiction in Russia has
slowed down, and the number of people who take narcotic drugs from twice
or thrice a month to daily dropped by 800,000 in 2004-2007, he said.
