Russian, EU Drug Control Chiefs Discuss Cooperation

Excerpt from report by Russian news agency Interfax

Moscow, 26 January: Russia is interested in the experience of combating the illegal trade in drugs accumulated in the European Union, [Russian] Federal Drug Control Service Director Viktor Cherkesov said during his meeting with the director of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Wolfgang Gotz.

[Passage omitted: Cherkesov and Gotz were discussing bilateral cooperation]

“The exchange of information between Russia and the EU states about the drug situation, methods of combating drug-related crime and medical treatment of drug addicts is an important aspect of this cooperation,” the press office of the Federal Drug Control Service said in a press release obtained by Interfax today.

[Passage omitted: Russia is implementing a federal anti-drug problem for 2005-09]

“The Russian Federal Drug Control Service hopes that the European Monitoring Centre will share with us its methods, forms and means of drugs monitoring,” Cherkesov said.

Gotz also stressed the importance of international anti-drug efforts.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction was founded 1993. Its headquarters is located in Lisbon.