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The African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs; Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko met and conferred with Drug Control Headquarters’ Director General for International Relations Office, Mahmoud Bayat on February 13, 2016 in Tehran. At the meeting, the Iranian official referred to the importance of cooperation between African Union and Iran in the all accepts of the drug control issues, such as drug demand and harm reduction and drug supply reduction.
He further touched upon the continued trend of drug cultivation and production in Afghanistan as the biggest producer of opiates in the world and emphasized the need for implementing appropriate action plans based on common and share responsibility.
He expressed concern over the transfer of drug proceeds and money into the financial and banking systems in western countries reiterating the necessity for combating money-laundering. He described the Islamic Republic of Iran as a strong barrier hampering the flow of drugs from Afghanistan towards western countries, as well as the best practice on drug demand and harm reduction in the regional and international levels.
In the recent years; the African rout has been used by the drug smugglers, as well as the old Balkan rout, he also added.
The AU Commissioner for Social Affairs; insists on making close cooperation between African Union and the Islamic Republic of Iran in several areas on drug control issues. Holding expert group meeting to familiarize both sides’ capacities, is necessary as the first stage for starting bilateral cooperation, he suggested.
He said that, tendency of youth people in Africa towards drugs, is the one of the main social problem in the AU member states, nowadays.
DCHQ.IR 16 February 2016