OREANDA-NEWS. June 30, 2008.  The first international meeting focused on the approaches to combating illicit drug trafficking through sea ports in the framework of the Paris Pact Initiative closed in Ashkhabad. The forum brought together the experts from the Caspian states and the leading international organisations and the Paris Pact Initiative partners including the UN agencies, the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), OSCE, the Central Asia Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC). The law enforcement officers, the specialists of the national ministries and departments concerned, the foreign diplomats and the journalists took part in the meeting.

Intensification of regional co-operation to suppress illicit drug trafficking and the approaches to concerting efforts and coordinating the activities of the Caspian sates in this field were a focus of the meeting organized by the State Service on Drugs of Turkmenistan in collaboration with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Putting emphasis on the importance of the forum for designing the joint action plan for the following three years by the countries partnering in the Caspian Initiative the participants were unanimous that the dialogue initiated in Ashkhabad would foster effective international partnership in the framework of the Paris Pact Initiative. Those speaking at the meeting noted that having defined rigorous and uncompromising struggle against drug trafficking as a priority goal of the national policy Turkmenistan stood steadfast to the commitments undertaken to the world community. That was vividly proved by the action of liquidating a large bulk of narcotic substances, which had taken place in the locality Kasamly Julge and the participants of the meeting had joined.

Summing up the meeting the participants called for furthering constructive co-operation to block the way to illicit drug trafficking. The participants expressed gratitude to the Turkemn partners and President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and addressed the Statement thanking the Turkmen leader for perfect organisation of the forum and an opportunity to discuss the issues related to one of the most dangerous challenges mankind faced nowadays.