UN Security Council backed Russia concept of combating Afghan drug threat

The concept of countering the Afghan drug threat has received broad support at the latest session of the UN Security Council on Afghanistan, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported Wednesday.

According to the Russian foreign ministry, Russia's concept suggests that a complex all-embracing strategy be developed under the UN aegis through co-ordinated international efforts both inside the country (Afghanistan) and outside it.

When forwarding this initiative, Russia relied on the support of the provisional Afghan administration and many other nations, including the countries of the region. "It is of fundamental importance that this initiative has been reflected in the official statement of the UN Security Council's chairman," the foreign ministry reported.

The document also outlines strategic milestones for the UN member states and profile subdivisions of the organisation (The UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the UN International Narcotics Control Board) to address problems of combating illegal drug trafficking across the Afghan border.

"We expect UN-led co-ordinated international efforts to curb effectively the drug threat emanating from Afghanistan and thereby foster security and wellbeing of the local countries and international community as a whole," the Russian foreign ministry emphasised.