Joint Regional Conference on Counter Terrorism and Counter Narcotics
Almaty, 22 July 2019
UNODC under its Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries in cooperation with the Regional Cooperation Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan organized a Joint Regional Conference on Counter Terrorism and Counter Narcotics under the framework of the two Confidence Building Measures of the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 22 July 2019.
The conference was opened by Mr. Dastan Eleukenov, Director of the International Security Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Kazakhstan and followed by the opening remarks by Mr. Idrees Zaman, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Mr. Mark Colhoun, UNODC Regional Representative for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries. The conference was attended by more than seventy Senior Officials of the HoA-IP participating and supporting countries as well as supporting organizations.
The conference through its three thematic panels discussed: the current situation on illicit drugs and terrorism in the HoA Region and regional efforts to combat this threat; countering illicit financial flows and financing of terrorism; and, prospects for a regional strategy as well as strengthening regional cooperation in countering terrorism and illicit drug trafficking. During the conference, the participants reviewed relevant UN Resolutions and other regional cooperation mechanisms including the Heart of Asia Confidence Building Measures on Counter Terrorism and Narcotics and how these can be utilized to improve coordination and cooperation between the countries in the region., The panels discussed activities and practical mechanisms that could be prioritised under the two CBM Implementation Plans and acted on in a timely manner in concrete terms. The panels also discussed ways to improve coordination on awareness raising activities in respect to counter terrorism and drug trafficking amongst the media of the Heart of Asia Region.
The Joint Regional Conference on Counter Terrorism and Counter Narcotics was jointly organized by UNODC with the financial support from European Union and Finland.