DUSHANBE, July 2, 2010, Asia-Plus -- A regular meeting of the Coordinating Council of heads of the competent authorities to counter drug traffic (KSOPN) of member nations of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has opened in Dushanbe.

Senior representatives from counternarcotics agencies of Tajikistan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan are participating at the meeting.

Presided over by the head of Russia’s Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN), Viktor Ivanov, the meeting is considering issues related to further development of KSOPN and expansion of cooperation with profile structures of regional organizations on countering drug trafficking.

The meeting participants are expected to adopt decision on signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with commanders of border troops from the CIS member states, set up a working group for operations introduction, approve the planned schedule of preparation of the Channel-2010 Operation, and discuss the process of implementation of the main events in 2010.

Issues related to strengthening fight against drug trafficking from Afghanistan are a major topic of the meeting.