Wednesday, 29 March 2006
Address by Republic of Armenia Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan to Meeting of Council on Coordination of Illegal Drug Traffic Counteraction of Heads of Collective Security Treaty Organization Member-States' Competent Authorities
Dear participants!
Allow me, on behalf of Republic of Armenia Government and on my own behalf, to welcome you to the ancient land of Armenia and wish you all fruitful work
It is my pleasure to state that this meeting of the Council on Coordination of Illegal Drug Traffic Counteraction of Heads of Collective Security Treaty Organization member-States' Competent Authorities is being held in Yerevan, and I would like to express confidence that the outcome of your work will help further the cooperation between competent authorities of CSTO member-States.
Dear participants!
The process of crime internationalization, namely the increased share of cross-country elements in committing crimes on the territories of two or more States, has aroused the necessity of amending and further developing international and intergovernmental cooperation in the field of law-enforcement.
The Council on Coordination of Illegal Drug Traffic Counteraction of Heads of Collective Security Treaty Organization member-States' Competent Authorities plays a significant role in the fight against drug-related threats that will undoubtedly promote the development and implementation of concerted strategies, as well as new mechanisms for prevention of illegal drug traffic.
As an extremely dangerous social phenomenon, illegal drug traffic has assumed a global, transnational character to become one of today's most acute problems facing mankind. It is aimed at undermining political and social-economic stabilization processes in individual States and defying the gene-fund of nations.
It is not by mere chance that our heads of State are placing a special focus upon the fight against the above-mentioned phenomenon as witnessed by the operative-preventive actions referred to as "Channel" as held for the third time this year with the purpose creating safety zones to prevent illegal drug traffic in CSTO countries. The expertise and the results obtained allow us to assess positively the role and significance of these joint interdepartmental operations.
Dear participants!
We all perfectly realize that a single country will not be in a position to counteract illegal drug traffic. In this respect, it appears to be crucial to organize and hold meetings like this as only joint international efforts are susceptible to prevent the proliferation of drug addiction.
We all have to think once again over the ways of making a better use of the existing know-how so as to keep on inflicting heavy blows on illegal drug dealings.
I am convinced that this meeting will be another step forward in the direction of active and fruitful cooperation between the competent authorities of CSTO member-States responsible for the fight against illegal drug traffic.
Thank you for attention.
