DUSHANBE, May 24, Asia-Plus - NATO will support establishment of international training center for training specialists in chemical expert examination, cynology and analytics for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Dushanbe.

According to Tajik Drug Control Agency (DCA), this was remarked yesterday at a meeting of visiting NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Central Asia Robert Simmons with Tajik drug control chief Rustam Nazarov.  

During the meeting it was noted that in the near future, member nations of NATO will also provide assistance in organization of training courses for Tajik law enforcement officers.

Mr. Simmons noted that Tajikistan, as one of neighbors of Afghanistan, has become the font-line against drug trafficking. 

“The task of NATO in Tajikistan is to support this efficient struggle and provide assistance to agencies countering drug trafficking,” the NATO envoy said.  

Simons further added that although North Atlantic Alliance is not an organization directly fighting drug trafficking but the drug threat problem is very topical and a number of programs for expanding cooperation between NATO and Central Asia’s states in fighting drug trafficking had been projected.  The programs were approved during the Istanbul summit in 2004.