Working meeting with UNODC

A working meeting between CARICC and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Office for Central Asia, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan was held online on 22 January 2026.

The goal was to discuss priority areas of cooperation for 2026. 

The meeting brought together heads of relevant projects run by UNODC and CARICC team.

The event was opened by Mr. Alexander Fedulov, Deputy Head, who noted relevance and practical significance of further developing and strengthening cooperation between the UNODC and CARICC in countering modern challenges and threats of illicit drug trafficking within the framework of UNODC projects, as well as the need for detailed discussion of further algorithm of cooperation for 2026, combining common efforts for the purpose of high-quality organization of measures being developed at a high level. 

Following this, the floor was given to Mr. Yusuf Kurbonov, UNODC International Programme Coordinator, who provided participants of the working meeting with detailed information on current cooperation projects between UNODC and CARICC for the near future, in particular on events in Astana and Dushanbe, the upcoming 69th session of CND in Vienna, the Global Forum in the Republic of Uzbekistan, and other events. The UNODC representative also informed participants about activities of the UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Sardor Atashikov, Regional Coordinator of the UNODC Global Passenger and Cargo Control Programme, shared details about cooperation projects during the meeting and suggested involving CARICC in joint implementation.    

Then, the floor was given to CARICC Director M. Khamidov, who expressed sincere gratitude to the leadership and team of UNODC for practical assistance in bringing CARICC into UNODC projects, as well as for readiness to work together on timely and high-quality development and implementation.   

At the same time, he informed about CARICC's plans for the near future and measures being taken to implement  agreements reached at the meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of CARICC Member States held on 5 December 2005 in Samarkand, including within the framework of Action Plan (“Road Map”) for 2026.

It was also highlighted that there's a need to set up practical cooperation with the UNODC Information Center and that joining forces to beef up analytical work in tackling the drug threat is important.

For her part, Ms. Salome Flores, Head of the UNODC Information Center, expressed readiness to continue working together on this initiative. 

Overall, following the meeting parties confirmed their commitment to further expanding practical cooperation in combating transnational drug crime.

It was a constructive and meaningful exchange, where both sides agreed to continue working together and strengthen partnership between UNODC and CARICC.