Regional security groups can help in Afghan drug war : Russia

Moscow, May 26 (UNI) Russia today said regional security organisations could make a significant contribution in combating the inflow of drugs from Afghanistan and ensuring regional security.

''For the anti-drug action to be effective, it is necessary not only to support the efforts of the Afghan authorities to bring the situation in the country under control, but also to support the efforts of international security forces which should actively boost their fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, at the same time promoting cooperation with all of Afghanistan's neighbours,'' Russian Foreign Minister Sergei said after talks with his Afghan counterpart Dadfar Spanta.

He said the two sides discussed the possibility of using both UN agencies, which need to play a central role, as well as regional organisations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).

Mr Lavrov also said both organisations were introducing specific drug control programmes to help deal with the ever-growing threat.

On his part, Mr Spanta said development of bilateral relations with Russia and regional organistions, in particular, the SCO, was a priority for Afghanistan's foreign policy.

The SCO and CSTO countries have previously discussed the need to give Afghanistan an observer status.

He said negotiations in Moscow ''have become a new step in the development of bilateral ties and a new stage in cooperation between Russia and Afghanistan.'' According to the UN, Afghanistan supplies around 90 per cent of the world's opium used to make heroin, and the country produces 4 billion dollar worth of heroin each year.

UNI XC SKB ND1810