Press Release
Joint UNODC UNRCCA High Level Conference on "Identifying and Tackling Geo-Strategic Challenges to Promoting Development of the Licit Economy in Afghanistan in the Transformation Decade"
21 - 22 September, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
The Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries (RP) of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UN Regional Center for Preventative Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) jointly held a high-level conference of "Identifying and Tackling Geo-Strategic Challenges to Promoting Development of the Licit Economy in Afghanistan in the Transformation Decade" on 21 - 22 September 2016 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
This High-Level Conference was co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Salimzoda, Director of the Drug Control Agency, Tajikistan, H.E. Ms. Azimi, Minister for Counter Narcotics, Afghanistan, Mr. Draganov, Special Representative of the Secretary General for UNRCCA and Ms. Kardel, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. It brought together Heads of Drug Control Agencies and senior officials from Regional Programme Member Countries, representatives of from relevant UN entities, regional organizations and bilateral embassies in as well as individual experts.
Discussions centered on areas including how best to promote regional cooperation on areas including security, economic integration, connectivity, drug control, tackling illicit financial flows and financing of terrorism and alternative development.
All participants agreed on the need to support Afghanistan to meet its development and security challenges in a spirit of shared responsibility through continued engagement and cooperation. In addition, the need for efforts to counter narcotics to be a main pillar of development planning in Afghanistan was strongly emphasized.
We are thankful to the Government of Tajikistan for hosting the Conference and also the European Union, Finland and Sweden for their support which enabled the Conference to take place.
About the Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries
For details of the Regional Programme's work, please visit www.unodc.org/rpanc/ or contact rpwca@unodc.org
About UNRCCA
For details of UNRCCA, please visit http://unrcca.unmissions.org/