Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan discuss anti-drug program in Tbilisi

The meeting participants discussed results of the anti-drug program from 2007 and the plans for 2009.

The program is implemented under financial support of the European Union and in the indirect participation of the UN Development Program.

The program was launched five years ago. The fifth stage of the program, estimated at over EUR 2 mln, started in 2007 and will last for three years.

"The drug problem is a transnational problem and it equally concerns all the three South Caucasus states. In this connection it is very important to cooperate to reduce spread of drugs and their consumption", ambassador Pair Eklund, head of the representative office of the European commission in Georgia told reporters.

In turn, UNDP permanent representative Robert Watkins noted that the main goal of the program is assistance to cooperation between the South Caucasus country in combat with drugs.

The program consists of several components, in particular, assistance to cooperation between the South Caucasus countries in combat with drugs.

The program including several components, in particular, assistance to cooperation between governments to attain harmonization of legislation with the EU laws. Moreover, it implies broadened capabilities to treat drug addicts and introduce a special course about harm of drugs to the school curriculum.

"Significant progress has been attained through several years of the program. Cooperation has strengthened and harmonization of the law has occurred at a definite stage, while the number of treated and the quality of treatment grew up. Moreover, this issue has started to be discussed at schools", noted  Watkins.

Seminars for judges and prosecutors, trainings for representatives of the law enforcement bodies, schoolchildren and mass media representatives are planned in the framework of the anti-drug program in 2009. At the same time, the program ensures technical assistance to the centers of detoxification and laboratories of the judicial expertise.

/Novosti-Georgia/