US diplomat to visit Moscow July to discuss anti-drug struggle in

WASHINGTON, June 25 (Itar-Tass) -- US Assistant Secretary of State
William Brownfield will visit Moscow in early July, where he will discuss
with representatives of the Russian government measures to combat drug
trafficking problems in Central Asia, the Department of State said on
Friday.
His trip to the region will last from June 26 to July 2. Brownfield
will visit Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Russia. He will present
a Central Asian initiative on drugs, which is aimed at improving the
opportunities of countries in the region, in partnership with Afghanistan,
to prevent the trafficking of drugs from there and to expose drug
trafficking-related crime groups.
Russia will be the final point of Brownfield's tour. According to the
Department of State, in Moscow he will hold consultations on the strategy
of combating drug trafficking in Central Asia. Attention will also be
given to cooperation between the U.S. and Russia in this sphere, including
the involvement of regional and multinational organizations.
From June 27 to 30, Brownfield, will meet with representatives of the
governments of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan to discuss issues of
regional cooperation and possible establishment of special investigative
units. Their work will be focused on the effective investigation,
prosecution and indictment of the middle level and top drug traffickers.