Transcontinental Anti-Drug Motor Marathon Starts in Central Asia

A 20-month transcontinental motor marathon under the "No Hard Drugs" slogan starts in Central Asia.

A team headed by a famous doctor and expert in narcology, Zhenishbek Nazaraliyev, consists of 6 people, who in Hummer-1 cars will travel around the world's 49 countries making brief stays in 67 cities to arrange large-scale anti-drug demarches and meetings with youth, politicians, public figures and mass media representatives.

On April 25th in Bishkek Kirghizstan's President, Askar Akayev, will pass to the marathon participants a torch lit on the Rescue Mountain, Tashtar-Ala, and a capsule with the Address to the people of the 22nd century.

On April 29th the marathon participants will cross the Kirghiz-Tajik border and arrive in Dyushambe to stay for four days and meet representatives of international organisations, public unions, student youth, science, culture and art. On April 30th Nazaraliyev will be received by Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmonov.

On May 3rd the team is to cross the Tajik-Afghani border.

The motor marathon was organised by the Anti-drug non-government organisation, the Worldwide League.

The global anti-drug campaign has already been supported by UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, His Highness Prince Aga Han IV, Buddhists' spiritual leader His Holiness The Dalai Lama, laureates of the 2002 Noble Prize, sport champions of the world and others.