DUSHANBE, July 1, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The current drug situation in Afghanistan was a major topic of a meeting of President Emomali Rahmon with the director of Russia’s Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN) Viktor Ivanov that took place here on July 1.  Director of Tajik Drug Control Agency (DCA) Rustam Nazarov also attended the meeting.

Russia and Tajikistan have similar stances on issues related to fighting drug trafficking that create favorable conditions for joint fight against this evil, Ivanov told reporters, following his meeting with Tajik leader.

“Afghanistan is not only the world''s largest supplier of opium; it has also become the global leader in hashish production,” the Russian drug control chief said.

On the possibility of return of Russian border guards to the Tajik-Afghan border, Ivanov noted that that issue could be solved “if there is will of the two countries.”

Asked about providing assistance to Tajik special services dealing with combating drug trafficking, Ivanov said that they had discussed that issue.  “Providing assistance to Tajikistan with fighting drug trafficking is in interest of Russia itself,” he said.

We will recall that the Russian drug control chief arrived in Dushanbe on June 30 to attend a regular session of the Coordination Council of Heads of Drug Control Bodies of Member Nations of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that will take place here tomorrow.

According to DCA, counternarcotics body chiefs from Tajikistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus and Uzbekistan will attend the session in Dushanbe that is dedicated to consider issues related to countering drug trafficking, discovering and shutting down drug trafficking channels as well as carrying out annual anti-drug operation, dubbed Channel.