The Regional Contact Group shall become operational by the start of 2014 after finalization of its Terms of Reference in the intervening period, declaration by the Regional Ministerial Conference on Counter-Narcotics said at the conclusion.
The Group will focus on developing a comprehensive regional counter-narcotics strategy focusing on the elimination of opium cultivation, and demand, supply and trafficking of illicit drugs and psychotropic substances.
In their statements, the participating ministers greatly appreciated the initiative taken by the President of Pakistan, which they termed as well thought and timely. They agreed that the initiative would instill much needed urgency to the regional counter-narcotics efforts, the declaration said. It said that narcotics pose a serious threat, which transcends national boundaries.
The Ministers and Heads of Delegations participating in Regional Ministerial Conference on Counter-Narcotics in Islamabad, at the invitation of the President of Pakistan, agreed to enhance cooperation and synergy in the efforts towards counter narcotics.
The delegations of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan attended the Conference.
Pakistani President, Asif Ali Zardari, in his speech highlighted the socio-economic and political challenges posed by the menace of narcotics at the national, regional and global levels.
He particularly stressed the need to control the illicit drugs and its financial proceeds that fuel crime, money-laundering and terrorism.
The President urged the participating countries to develop pragmatic ways of strengthening regional cooperation among the concerned national agencies, especially to disrupt the nexus between narco-money and financing for terrorism.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
