Major-General R.A. Miralizoda, CARICC Director, participated in the Second International Anti-Drug Campaign “For a World without Drugs” within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation via videoconference on 21 May 2021 at invitation of the SCO Secretary-General.

During his presentation at the “strengthening international cooperation to combat drug crime” segment, Mr. Miralizoda introduced the Centre as one of the largest and most significant UNODC projects in Central Asia, one of the priorities of which is to expand partnerships in the field of counter-narcotics.

It was suggested that SCO and CARICC should become flagships in promotion of joint interests in the region as well as a good example for other international organizations involved in countering drug threat.

In this context, attention was drawn to the need to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation between the SCO Secretariat and CARICC, an integral part of strategic and programme documents of the organizations, approved by heads of state of their members.

The event supported the “One Belt, One Road” initiative of the People's Republic of China, implementation of which opens up broad prospects for cooperation, with maximum benefit in strengthening cooperation on the anti-drug track.

The idea of creating the SCO Anti-Drug Center in Dushanbe was endorsed, provided that the created Center and CARICC will not duplicate each other, and ensure a clear division of functions and tasks between them, with a definite gradation of goals and organized subsequent coordination of their activities.

Meanwhile, it emphasized CARICC's consistent position that national interests of individual states should not prejudice and contradict strategic principles of development and operation of our organizations.

The meeting was conducted in the format of a constructive dialogue on full range of aspects of anti-drug cooperation.