Regional Events, 2007

EC supported UNODC to enhance forensic capacity in Central Asia

In December 2007, UNODC successfully finalised the implementation of the "Support to Forensic Laboratories Capacity in Central Asia " project financed by the European Commission within BOMCA/CADAP programme activities. This project assessed the current forensic laboratory capacities in Central Asian countries and based on the recommendations of the assessment provided specialized equipment and related training for forensic experts of the law enforcement agencies.

UNODC Launched CARICC's Pilot Phase

The Central Asian states continue to support the establishment of CARICC. By November 2007, the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan had all become signatories to the CARICC agreement. On 28 December 2007, Turkmenistan became the first MOU member country to ratify the CARICC Framework Agreement.
In order to avoid delays in the establishment of the Centre due to lengthy formal process of signature and ratification of the CARICC Agreement, following consultations with project donors and the participating countries, agreement was reached to start a pilot phase. This commenced, as scheduled, on 1 November 2007 and will initially be of six months duration.
This allows for the renovation of the Centre to commence, the procurement of basic equipment, recruitment of essential Centre staff and the secondment of Liaison Officers from each country, as well as start initial operations of the Centre. Kazakhstan has proposed a senior law enforcement official for the post of CARICC Director as it was agreed by the participating countries. This person will hold the post for the first two years of operation. The UNODC RR for Central Asia during his mission to Almaty on 15th November 2007 had a meeting with the newly nominated Director and CARICC staff to discuss the expectations from the CARICC pilot phase and explain importance of the initiative.
Since the start of the pilot phase a series of information bulletins regarding drug seizures and smuggling trends have been issued by the Centre.
There is strong support for the project from Europol, Interpol, World Customs Organization (WCO) and the SECI Centre. It has been agreed that Interpol will have an office within the Centre. The Interpol I/24/7 system was installed in December 2007 and training provided to CARICC staff by Interpol officers.

New UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy established in Ashgabat.

On 10 December 2007, the opening ceremony for the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy - the first such entity in Central Asia was held in Ashgabat. It was linked to the 12th anniversary of the UN General Assembly recognizing Turkmenistan's neutrality status, marked on 12 December. The Centre will assist the governments of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in increasing their potential to resolve disputes peacefully and preventing conflicts by holding dialogues and involving international support in the implementation of relevant projects. With an operating initial budget of 2.3m dollars, the Centre will be led by a representative of the UN Secretary-General at the Assistant S/G level. The opening ceremony was attended by the Turkmen President, the Tajik President, the foreign ministers of all five Central Asian countries, as well as several other countries, the UN Undersecretary-General of Political Affairs, as well as high-ranking representatives from the OSCE, EU, CIS, SCO and ECO. UNODC was represented by the Regional Representative on behalf of the Executive Director and the Chief of DO/PDB/EWCAS. Participants at the opening ceremony also attended an international conference "Preventive diplomacy and international cooperation" jointly organized by the UN and Government of Turkmenistan.

UNODC supported anticorruption activities in Tajikistan

On 9 December 2007, to mark the International Anti-corruption Day in Tajikistan, UNODC jointly with the Government conducted a number of events aimed at anti-corruption public awareness raising and promotion of UNCAC.
To support the anticoruption efforts of the Government of Tajikistan, in September 2007 UNODC placed an Anti-corruption Mentor to work closely with the national counterpart - the new Agency on State Financial Control and Fight against Corruption which was established on 10 January 2007. Since September, UNODC ROCA Anti-corruption Mentor conducted varous activities icluding technical assistance needs assessment, inventory of the domestic legal and institutional framework with regard to the requirements of the UNCAC. The Gap Analysis of the domestic laws and its compliance with UNCAC was finalized and presented to HQ ACU. The Mentor also actively contributed to the the Working Group for the drafting of the National Anti-corruption Strategy "White Paper". The draft of the Strategy was finalised and presented to the President of Republic of Tajikistan and the Parliament.

UNODC ROCA contributed to the Paris Pact Policy Meeting

On 3-7 December 2007, the ROCA Regional Representative participated in Paris Pact Policy Consultative Group and CSACNSWG meetings and made presentations during both meetings on Central Asian precursor controls. The RR gave an overview of the Expert Round Table's action priorities and issues for consideration by the Policy Consultative Group. The primary recommendation was the endorsement of UNODC Outline Action Plan ("the red paper") targeting the smuggling of precursor chemicals in and around Afghanistan and Operation TARCET aimed at launching operations to intercept smuggling of precursors in Afghanistan as well as in China, I.R. Iran, Pakistan Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Both meetings were considered to be very successful and advanced planning for precursor controls in Afghanistan and Central Asia significantly. In particular, information available from the US CENTCOM CN Analyst will be made available to UNODC planners of Operation Tarcet. 

UNODC and OSCE Organised a Joint Roundtable on Human Trafficking

On 13-14 December, the ROCA sub-office in Kyrgyzstan jointly with Kyrgyzstan's State Migration and Employment Committee and the OSCE organized a roundtable on combating trafficking in hum an beings: state policies, dynamics and ways forward. The event took place under the UN GIFT framework and aimed to analyze achievements in the area of combating trafficking in all its forms, strengthen regional cooperation and coordination, and identify the most effective ways of combating THB in the region and beyond. The agenda also included strengthening the role of civil society, improving coordination with state structures, as well as coordinating international assistance in the implementation of the Programme of Co-operation of the CIS Member States in Combating Trafficking in Persons for 2007-2010. In 2007, Kyrgyz law-enforcement agencies filed 30 THB related cases, returned over 20 victims to the country, and foiled 62 attempts to traffic persons. The State Migration and Employment Committee received over 50 petitions and complaints from citizens in Kyrgyzstan. Of them, six were collective petitions, on the basis of which assistance has been provided to 180 people to resolve such problems.

ROCA's Senior Expert contributed to the 42nd Meeting of the Subcommission for the Near and Middle East

On 3-7 December 2007, ROCA Senior Law Enforcement Advisor participated as a key note speaker in the working group on heroin production and precursor control at the 42nd Meeting of the Subcommission for the Near and Middle East. Based on the discussions of the working group, the group determined that the sustainable eradication of illicit poppy cultivation, dismantling of clandestine laboratories and preventing precursor trafficking in Afghanistan is not just the responsibility of the Afghanistan authorities, but also that of the international community. The group also noted that diversions of acetic anhydride from domestic distribution channels appear to be the origin of the substance used in illicit drug manufacture.

It was decided that the authorities in Afghanistan should be encouraged to provide and exchange information on precursor seizures so that backtracking investigations into their origin can be initiated. This was of particular importance with regard to the possible use of substitute chemicals in the illicit manufacture of heroin within the region.

The delegation from the Russian Federation also stressed that the experimental use of chemical markers to identify the origin of seized acetic anhydride should be encouraged. They reported that these markers are now readily available and easy to detect. Their use does not affect use of acetic anhydride in licit processes, but they can be used to identify their origins in the final product i.e. heroin.

British Embassy Co-Funds International Law Enforcement Workshop

Ashgabat, 13 November 2007 - The British Embassy in Ashgabat has co-funded the organisation of an "Inter-agency and Cross-border Сo-operation" workshop, which took place from 5 to 9 November 2007, in Ashgabat. This event was hosted by the Government of Turkmenistan, organised by the UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Turkmenistan and supported by agencies including NATO and the British, US and Turkish embassies.

"I am happy that we could contribute to this event which will promote and enhance inter agency and cross-border co-operation among Turkmenistan national law enforcement agencies and its neighbouring countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia and other states," the British Ambassador, Peter Butcher, said at the opening ceremony of the workshop.

The workshop was widely attended by representatives of national customs, border guard, migration, security services and interior ministries. A wide range of international representatives, including those from UNODC, Interpol, World Customs Organisation, the European Commission, World Bank, the OSCE and others, made presentations.

The British Embassy in Turkmenistan has been successfully co-operating with the Government of Turkmenistan in the area of countering drugs trafficking for many years. Examples of this co-operation include the construction of a customs checkpoint at the Turkmen-Afghan border.  The British and US Embassies in Turkmenistan, provide English language training courses for Turkmen law enforcement officers and organises their study visits to the UK. The British Embassy is also currently working on the opening of a self-access resource centre, where Turkmen officers will be able to further improve their English or work on their professional development using job-specific literature and other materials in English.

Ministry of Interior discussing HIV/AIDS in Uzbekistan

November 2007 

Ministry of Interior of Uzbekistan in partnership with UNAIDS, UNODC, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO and AFEW organized Conference "The Strategy of Ministry of Interior in countering HIV/AIDS" on 9-10 November 2007 in Samarkand city. More than 100 participants took part in the Conference representing the Ministries of Interior, Public Health, the Medical Department and General Directorate of Execution of Punishment (GUIN) of Ministry of Interior, the National AIDS Centre, Country Coordination Mechanism on HIV/AIDS, regional police departments from 7 regions of the country, International agencies and projects such as UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, AFEW, Health II, GFATM Project and Mass Media outlets.

The conference provided a forum for open discussion of HIV prevention issues among personnel of the Ministry of Interior and the penitentiary system and to work out the strategies for the future taking into account current needs for improved and effective HIV/AIDS prevention.

UNODC covered issues related general principles of HIV/AIDS prevention and care in prison settings by Mirzakhid Sultanov and presented outcomes of KAP study on HIV/AIDS issues among ex-prisoners in Uzbekistan by Kamran Niaz, which was very well accepted and discussed by the participants.

As the result of the Conference, the participants prepared the list of recommendations for the Strategy of Ministry of Interior on countering HIV/AIDS, which would be followed up by the partners in the near future. This event, in particular, served as an advocacy campaign and gave an opportunity for both Government and International agencies to thoroughly discuss the most priority topic as HIV/AIDS, which is very well coincided with global campaign - the World AIDS Day.

UNODC PROJECT OFFICE in TURKMENISTAN (POTUK)

PRESS RELEASE

The UNODC Turkmenistan Project office, with the support of the government of Turkmenistan organized a workshop on Interagency and Cross Border Law Enforcement Cooperation Workshop in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on 5-9 November 2007.

The objective of the workshop was to create a practical platform to enable the participating countries to discuss the need, means and ways to promote and strengthen the interagency and cross border cooperation in order to effectively combat illicit trafficking of drugs and organized crime.

The workshop was co-sponsored by the UK Embassy, US Embassy, Turkish Embassy, TIKA and NATO.

The country delegations were composed of the experts from Customs, Border Guard, Immigration, Security and Immigration services.

The workshop has gained a significant attention of the regional and international organizations. Within this frame, the key speakers of the workshop are from the World Customs Organization, ICPO-INTERPOL, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), NATO, SECI, ECO, OSCE and CSTO..

On the other hand, among  the UN specialized agencies in Turkmenistan the IOM, UNHCR, WHO and  BOMCA-CADAP program representatives besides the UNODC Iran Office attended the workshop to share their experience with the participants.

The opening ceremony took more attention and support of the diplomatic missions in Ashgabat as well. The distinguished representatives of Embassy of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, I.R.Iran, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation, Turkey and Uzbekistan are welcomed the participants and guests by underlining the cross-border cooperation in combating illicit drug trafficking and organized crime.

On behalf of Turkmenistan, Mr.Murad Islamov, State Drug Coordination Commission, welcomed all delegates and underlined the continued support and cooperation with the UNODC. He indicated that Turkmenistan was very pleased to see its neighboring countries' representatives in Ashgabat and appreciated their potential contribution to the discussion to be made during the week.

The level of the participation and support was appreciated by  Mr.Ercan SAKA, (International Project Coordinator, Head of the UNODC Project Office in Ashgabat) and Mr. Richard Young, (UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan) at the opening ceremony..

Mr.SAKA added that this workshop was the one of the events in 2007 of the ongoing activities of the UNODC Office in Ashgabat  as well as an example of the overall strategy of the UNODC Regional Office and UNODC HQ.

UNODC Executive Director attends CIS and CSTO summits in Dushanbe

October 2007 

On 5-6 October 2007 Tajikistan hosted CIS and CSTO summits in Dushanbe. UNODC Executive Director (ED) addressed both the CIS Foreign Ministers meeting and the Heads of State meeting on regional drug and crime control matters, including the 2007 Afghanistan opium poppy situation. The ED explained UNODC role to support the efforts of CIS countries to control drugs, prevent crime and counter terrorism, especially in connection to the record opium harvest in Afghanistan. He stressed that only 4% of opium being trafficked along the Northern Route is being seized and mentioned various UNODC initiatives including the Action Plan for "Securing Central Asia's Borders with Afghanistan", CARICC, the Caspian Sea Initiative, UN.GIFT, etc. The ED pointed that UNODC could do more in the Caucasus, in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, especially in the rule of law area. In the Central Asian region, cooperation in legal matters (i.e. adding names of drug traffickers to the Al-Qaida/Taliban list) should be strengthened and information exchange should be improved. The countries of the region should work with Iran, China and regional organizations, as well as under the Paris Pact umbrella. The summits resulted in several breakthrough agreements including on creation of CSTO peacekeeping units that might in effect replace the CIS peacekeepers stationed in frozen conflict zones; on establishment of CIS migration control body; on sales of military equipment from Russia to CSTO members based on internal prices; and on co-operation with the SCO.

Click here to see more photos about the UNODC ED mission to Dushanbe.

The Expert Round Table for the Caspian Sea and the Caucasian Regions

27 September 2007 

On 17-19 September 2007, UNODC organized the Expert Round Table for the Caspian Sea and the Caucasian Regions in Turkmenbashi city (Turkmenistan). The meeting brought together 72 senior experts on counter narcotics enforcement and drug demand reduction, as well as diplomats from 16 countries and 13 International organizations. The working group on counter narcotics enforcement analysed traffic in Afghan opiates to and through the Caspian Sea and the Caucasian regions and identified counter narcotics enforcement priority actions and targets in the concerned countries, as well as in the region. The working group on drug demand reduction assessed the drug abuse situation in the region and identified priority actions to enhance national and regional responses in the fields of prevention of opiate abuse, treatment and rehabilitation of opiates dependent persons, and monitoring of opiates abuse situations and responses.

UNODC Executive Director met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan

10 September 2007

The bilateral meeting was organized at the margins of the Conference on Central Asia organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. UNODC Executive Director, recognized the fruitful cooperation between Uzbekistan and UNODC, though invited to seek further expansion by recommending, for instance, the ratification of the MoU on CARICC. UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia also underlined the necessity to consolidate the historical successful cooperation on law enforcement and border control, mainly funded by the US, and to diversify the programme. Human trafficking and organized crime were mentioned by both sides as promising new areas for technical assistance by UNODC. The Minister of Foreign Affair of Uzbekistan, praised the assistance and analytical capacity provided by UNODC and requested further assistance in Uzbekistan and the region in border control and monitoring, in particular along the borders with Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Conference on Central Asia organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

10 September 2007

On 10 September 2007 the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a conference on Central Asia in Rome. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Russian Federation, as well as the Secretary General of OSCE, the EU Special Representative for Central Asia and NATO's representative participated in the Conference. The conference reviewed the interconnections between political, economic and security issues for the region, including the threats posed by the increasing illicit opium cultivation in Afghanistan. It was anticipated that the European Union would increase its engagement in Central Asia, through both bilateral assistance and multilateral mechanisms. The EU Representative emphasized the importance of tackling the flow of precursor chemicals into Afghanistan and outlined the overall framework for EU cooperation in the five-year strategy on Central Asia (2007-2012).

News on CARICC 

17 August 2007

UNODC is party to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on sub-regional drug control cooperation with the five Central Asian States (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan), the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan. These countries are all actively participating in a UNODC project, generally known as CARICC, to establish a Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre on the lines of Europol, the law enforcement intelligence agency for the E.U. member States.

The purpose of the Centre is to facilitate information exchange and analysis, and to assist in the coordination of operational activities of the various law enforcement agencies in the region and thereby improve effectiveness in countering drug trafficking.

As of August 2007 the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have signed the CARICC agreement. Based upon information from the Russian authorities it is expected that the signature of the President of the Russian Federation will be made by October 2007.

The formal Agreement will enter into force when four countries have ratified. No countries have so far ratified.

Although progress is being made towards ratification it will clearly be several months before the formal CARICC Agreement will enter into force. In order to have the Centre established without further delays, it was agreed following recent consultations with project donors and the participating countries, that a pilot phase would take place. This will start no later than 1 November 2007 and be of an initial six months duration. This allows for the renovation of the Centre to commence, the procurement of basic equipment, recruitment of essential Centre staff and the secondment of Liaison Officers from each country.

NRC-UNODC continue trainings for the law enforcement agencies

15 August 2007

UNODC and NATO-Russia Council continue the successful trainings for the law enforcement agencies of the Central Asian countries and Afghanistan aimed to strengthen the capacity of counter-drug officers agencies involved in countering illicit drug trafficking.
Two kinds of training sessions, in the specialized training centers and on-site mobile trainings, are conducted under the Pilot Project on Counter-Narcotics Training in Central Asia and Afghan Law Enforcement Personnel.
Two from four planned trainings sessions in 2007 already held in the International Inter-Agency Drug Fighting Training Center (Domodedovo). It is supposed 60 officers from five Central Asian countries and Afghanistan will attend these sessions.
Mobile training sessions allowed covers more attendants. 90 participants of Kazakhstan (9-19 July), Kyrgyzstan (19-29 March) and Uzbekistan (14-25 May) were trained by the DEA international training team and trainers from the Russia, Turkey, Romania, Italia and Greece. Trainings include such topics as interview & interrogation, informant management, surveillance, undercover operations with practical exercises.
Now the next mobile training for the law enforcement officers of Turkmenistan is ongoing. Training for Afghan officers planned to be held on November.

UNODC organised a Legislative Drafting Workshop for the law enforcement authorities of Tajikistan

9-13 July 2007

On 9 - 13 July 2007 Legislative Drafting Workshop on the amendments to the criminal legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan for compliance with the Universal counter-terrorism instruments was organized by TPB at Vienna International Centre premises, in Vienna, Austria. The workshop was organized upon request of the Maglisi Oli (the Parliament) of the Republic of Tajikistan as a follow up of a videoconference conducted with representatives of relevant ministries/agencies of Tajikistan on 1 March 2007.

The national workshop was focused on a detail review of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan in the light of the international legal requirements set forth in the universal legal framework against terrorism. The delegation of the Republic of Tajikistan comprised of eight high ranking officials from the President's Office, the Parliament, Ministry of Justice, Prosecutor's General Office, Ministry of Interior, and Drug Control Agency of the Republic of Tajikistan. During the working sessions, the participants discussed and agreed with TPB experts about concrete legislative proposals/amendments in the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan.

Precursor control training for Afghan and Tajik law enforcement officers

11-15 June 2007 

Five days of training for 30 Afghan and 10 Tajik law enforcement officers was conducted in Dushanbe jointly by UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia and UNODC Country Office, Afghanistan. The trainees were operational officers from different agencies including the Border Police, Customs and Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan and the DCA, Customs Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Border Guard Forces of Tajikistan. Importantly, the Afghan officers were not only from Kabul but from the border regions of Badakhshan, Balkh, Hilmand, Kandahar, Khost, Kunduz, Nangarhar, Nimroz and Zabul provinces as well.

The training covered various aspects of precursor control including: the UN Convention of 1988 and precursor control legislation of Tajikistan, illicit heroin production, risk indicators, vehicle search, container search, identification techniques and identification equipment (HazMatID and UN precursor test kit), backtracking operations and controlled deliveries. A strong emphasis was placed on the interdiction of smuggled consignments and theoretical lectures were re-enforced through practical exercises conducted at the Dushanbe Customs Terminal.

Two French experts were made available as trainers for the event and the session on the use of the HazMatID in the identification of precursors was presented by a Tajik DCA officer, trained earlier as a trainer during a course on the use of the equipment in Tashkent on 26-27 April 2007.

Operational level meeting between Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

3-4 May 2007

The UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia, in cooperation with the UNODC Country Office for Afghanistan, organised an operational level meeting between Afghanistan and its Central Asian neighbours on 3-4 May 2007 in Tashkent , Uzbekistan. The aim of the meeting was to develop a joint strategy and operational activities to prevent the smuggling of precursors to Afghanistan through the Central Asian region. High level law enforcement officials from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as well as observers from Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Norway, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States and the EU/UNDP BOMCA/CADAP Programme participated in the meeting.
During the meeting delegates shared information on the current situation relating to illicit drugs and precursors in their respective countries. The challenges faced as a result of increasing opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, as well as illicit production and trafficking of drugs in the region, were examined in detail and possible joint actions to prevent illicit flow of precursors to Afghanistan were also discussed.

Meeting of the Foreign Anti-Narcotic Community (FANC) of Central Asia held in Tashkent

30 April 2007

On 30 April 2007, UNODC organized next FANC meeting in Tashkent. FANC is an informal and unofficial association of professionals consisting of members of designated embassies or missions who are dedicated to the suppression of illicit trafficking in narcotics and dangerous drugs. Regular meetings are held to exchange information of mutual interest regarding narcotic control, as well as law enforcement issues related to the field. Countries and organizations represented at FANC are Canada, the EU, France, Germany, Interpol, Italy Norway, Turkey, U.K., U.S.A., and UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia.

A drug situation in Afghanistan in 2007, issues related with fight against opium cultivation, impact to Central Asia. A core of these meetings i an exchange of information on the assistance programs implemented in Central Asia, coordination of future joint efforts. Also, FANC members discussed the progress in establishment of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center (CARICC).

The meeting ended with the election of Chairman, vice chairman and secretary of FANC. Mr. Raffaello Ungaro, Drug Liaison Officer from the Italian Embassy was elected the FANC Chairman.

Training on the use and maintenance of precursors identification equipment (HazMatID)

26-27 April 2007

Two days practical training on the use and maintenance of the HazMatID Infrared Spectrometer was conducted in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 26-27 April 2007. Ten forensic experts and operational personnel of the five Central Asian states were trained on the use of the equipment for both precursor chemical and drug identification.Trainees were acquainted with the role, features, benefits and functions of the product and were introduced to the system's software as well on basic maintenance of the system. Practical exercises on the analysis of both controlled and non-controlled substance used in the illicit production of heroin were conducted.

The HazMatID has the advantage over normal spectrometers in that it is portable, but still provides highly specific identification of unknown liquid, powder and solid chemical substances in less than 20 seconds. The equipment is therefore now being tested for use during operational activities aimed at the interdiction of drug and precursor smuggling.The seminar contributed to strengthening of capacity of judges, prosecutors and law-enforcement officers in investigation and adjudication of drug-related offences and promoted increased sentencing efficiency through a review of international standards, legislation and practice of the participating countries, discussions and exchange of experience.

 Regional Workshop on Enhancement of Law Enforcement and Judicial Co-operation on the Central Asian Drug Routes

April 2007

On 3-4 April 2007 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, UNODC's Global Legal Advisory Programme and the Strategic Police Matters Unit of OSCE jointly organized a Regional Workshop entitled " Enhancement of Law Enforcement and Judicial Co-operation on the Central Asian Drug Routes". The law-enforcement and judicial practitioners and/or legal experts from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Russian Federation, France, USA, Mongolia and China as well as experts from UNODC and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) participated in the seminar.

The seminar served as a forum for the establishment of personal links among relevant law enforcement and judicial authorities dealing with mutual legal assistance in States affected by Afghan heroin trafficking, the dissemination of information on specificity of the legal and procedural requirements of each country, and the identification of problems connected with internal and transnational cooperation.

At the conclusion of the workshop, the participants developed the recommendations that are aimed at the improvement of legislation and practice of participating states in the areas of judicial and law-enforcement cooperation.

 An Expert Seminar for Eastern Europe and Central Asia on the Criminalization of Corruption

March 2007

The UNODC's Global Legal Advisory Programme jointly with the OSCE, OECD and the Council of Europe organised an Expert Seminar for Eastern Europe and Central Asia on the Criminalization of Corruption held in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 26-28 March 2007. In addition to national participants from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine, the seminar was attended by international experts from UK, Slovenia, France, Switzerland as well as representatives of OECD, UNODC, CoE and OSCE.

The purpose of this seminar was to facilitate the establishment/reinforcement of informal links among the law-enforcement experts, judges and prosecutors of Eastern Europe and Central Asia and deepen their understanding about some of the international legal standards for the criminalization of corruption established by the relevant OECD, Council of Europe and UN anti-corruption conventions, to discuss how these requirements are best introduced into the national legislation, and to present the experience of other countries on the practical application of these standards in legislation and in law enforcement.

UNODC participated in the 3rd Seminar on Criminal Justice for Central Asia of the UNAFEI

March 2007

The Senior Legal Adviser for UNODC's Regional Office for Central Asia participated and presented on the drug trafficking situation in Central Asia and the UNODC's response as well as on international standards and best practices in the areas of extradition and MLA in the 3rd Seminar on Criminal Justice for Central Asia of the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders. The seminar was organised by United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) in Tokyo, Japan on 26 February - 16 March 2007. The main theme of the Seminar was "Effective Measures and Enhancement of Treatment for Drug Abusers in the Criminal Justice Process". Senior prosecutors, law-enforcement and judicial officers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan participated in the seminar.

The seminar contributed to strengthening of capacity of judges, prosecutors and law-enforcement officers in investigation and adjudication of drug-related offences and promoted increased sentencing efficiency through a review of international standards, legislation and practice of the participating countries, discussions and exchange of experience.

UNODC's contribution to the seminar was highly appreciated by the UNAFEI and participants. 

Press-Conferences to Launch the 2006 INCB Annual Report

March 2007

In March 2007, UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia jointly with the main national counterparts has organized several press-conferences to launch the 2006 INCB Annual Report in Central Asian states. Local and international journalists were briefed on the main points of the 2006 INCB Report, opium cultivation in Afghanistan, drug situation in each of these countries, and the Governments' responses. The Vienna-based International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) warned that the flood of counterfeit medicines now available in many countries could have fatal consequences for consumers. In its Annual Report released on 1 March 2007, the Board also called on Member States to enforce legislation to ensure that narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are not illegally manufactured or diverted from licit manufacture and distribution channels to unregulated markets..

Kazakhstan.
Right to left: Mr. Tofik Murshudlu (Senior Coordinator, CARICC), Mr. Anatoliy Vybornov (Chief of the Committee on Drug Control and Countering Drug Business)

Kyrgyzstan
Left to right: Mr. Timur Isakov (Director Adviser of the DCA Kyrgyzstan), Ms. Victoria Chia (Coordinator, UNODC "DCA in Kyrgyz Republic project").

Tajikistan
Left to Right: Lieutenant General R. Nazarov (Director, Tajik DCA), Mr. Vladimir Sotirov (Head of the United Nations' Tajikistan Office of Peace-building), Mr. Sergey Bozhko (Project Coordinator, UNODC).

Uzbekistan
Right to left: Mr. Kamol Dustmetov (Director, National Center on Drug Control) and Mr. James Callahan (Regional Representative UNODC for Central Asia).

UNODC enhances Computer Based Training with the EU support

Fundamental to lasting successes in counter-trafficking is the continued enhancement of states' capacities to develop and implement self-sustaining training programs for law enforcement personnel. UNODC has established computer based training (CBT) centers throughout the region, raising skill levels, encouraging consistency amongst regional law enforcement personnel, and creating opportunities for cooperation and interaction.

Last year CBT centers were established at the Ministry of Interior and Drug Control Agency (DCA) in Tajikistan; DCA in Kyrgyzstan (in both countries funded by EU BOMCA programme); Customs service in Turkmenistan; and Border Guards and National Security Service in Uzbekistan. On 2 February 2007, another CBT sites were opened at the Customs and National Security Service Institutes of Uzbekistan thus creating solid grounds for self-sustainable special law enforcement trainings in the country.

During 2007, UNODC is planning to establish more than 20 additional CBT cites in Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan. These activities in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will be funded by the EU BOMCA programme. The overall objective of BOMCA is to secure the gradual adoption of modern border management methods and to facilitate the licit flow of persons and goods over in Central Asia.