Insecurity and drug trafficking has severely increased as a result of presence of NATO and US in Afghanistan.Moscow (ANTARA News/IRNA-0ANA) - Military presence of US and NATO in region has intensified insecurity, visiting Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said on Monday.
He made the remarks in an interview with IRNA on the sideline of his meeting with Sergei Shoigu Kuzhugetovich Minister for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disaster Management of Federation of Russia.
"Insecurity and drug trafficking has severely increased as a result of presence of NATO and US in Afghanistan," Najjar added.
He noted that Iran and Russia agreed to sign new MoUs in the filed of security and unpredictable incidents.
Shoigu Kuzhugetovich for his part, emphasized on expansion of bilateral relations in all fields and in particular forecasting unpredictable incidents, equipping IRI as well as training Iranian expertise.
Visiting Mohammad-Najjar had also a meeting with his Russian counterpart Rashid Nurgaliyev on Monday in which both officials underlined the need for broadening of mutual cooperation.
Najjar in his meeting with Nurgaliyev said that Iran and Russia as two friendly neighboring countries have great potentials to boost their relations.
Stressing that Russia is determined to expand ties with Iran, Nurgaliyev said Iran and Russia has common grounds especially in the field of fight against terrorism and extremism as well as drug trafficking.
Interior Minister arrived in Moscow on Sunday to meet and talk with Russian officials on important issues. Najjar is in Moscow for 3-day visit.
Visit to addicts rehabilitation center and Russia's Drugs Campaign Headquarters are among Najjar's Moscow visit plan. He will also talk with Russians on wagon and city train construction.
In June 2011, Mohammad-Najjar stressed Tehran and Moscow`s significant role in fighting illicit drugs in the region, and stated that the two sides planned to expand mutual cooperation in campaigning narcotics.
Tehran and Moscow agreed to establish a joint intelligence team to exchange information and plan joint operations, the Iranian minister said at the time.
In December 2010, Iran and Russia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in campaigning narcotics and drug-traffickers.
The agreement was signed by Mohammad Najjar and Viktor Ivanov, in Tehran.
Following the endorsement ceremony, Najjar told reporters that Iran and Russia embarked on signing the cooperation agreement because both countries are on the main transit route used by international drug networks.
Eastern Iran borders Afghanistan, which is the world`s number one opium and drug producer. Iran`s geographical position has made the country a favorite transit corridor for drug traffickers who intend to smuggle their cargoes from Afghanistan to drug dealers in Europe.
(H-AK)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
