The 10th Steering Committee Meeting of the Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries
The 10th Steering Committee Meeting of the Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries was hosted by the Government of the Russian Federation in Moscow on 16th December 2021. The Steering Committee Meeting was opened by H.E Mr. Vladimir Tarabrin, Ambassador, Special Envoy of the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs on International Cooperation on Countering Terrorism, Director of the Department on New Challenges and Threats, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and by Ms. Candice Welsch, Officer-in-Charge, Division for Operations from UNODC HQ.
H.E Mr. Vladimir Tarabrin in his opening remarks stated “We agree with the main message of this programme to ensure stability, security and prosperity in Afghanistan and its adjacent countries in order to build a strong barrier to drug, criminal and terrorist risks in this country and its spillover effects in the region.” Ms. Welsch emphasized that “We must continue to work together and should not lose momentum to remain in a position to provide support to the people of Afghanistan and to re-engage on the critical issues of countering drugs, crime, illicit financial flows and other key areas from a regional perspective”.
The meeting was attended by senior representatives from Drug Control Agencies, Ministries of Interior, Ministries of Foreign Affairs from countries of the Regional Programme (Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Islamic
Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan), CARICC, donors as well as from the host Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. The UNODC Regional Programme presented the achievements made under the 2nd phase of the Programme 2016-2021, while the audience were apprised on the structure of the 3rd phase 2022-2025, the consultative process adopted for ensuring its inclusiveness and the new elements added to the programme.
In their delivered statements, the member states of the Regional Programme unanimously expressed their full support for the next phase of the programme upon which Ms. Candice Welsch announced the formal launch of the third phase of the Regional Programme (2022-2025).