Tehran, Dec 28, IRNA Head of the United Nations country Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Leik Boonwaat hailed Irans anti-narcotics efforts.In a meeting with the Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli here on Saturday, he pointed to the concerns over the growing opium production in Afghanistan and called for a visit by the ambassadors of the Mini-Dublin Group to Iran-Afghanistan border region.
The Dublin Group is an informal consultation and coordination body concerned with the global, regional and country-specific problems of illicit drugs production, trafficking and demand. It is comprised of the 27 member states of the European Union, Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway, the United States, the European Commission and UNODC.
The Mini-Dublin Group in the Islamic Republic of Iran has the main tasks of compiling local situation reports, facilitating coordination on drug policy and assistance, conducting a dialogue with the host country on drug control, drawing up recommendations, and implementing the orientations of the Central Dublin Group and regional chairs.
The Mini Dublin Group in Tehran consists of representatives of the embassies of the member states, while other countries take part as observers.
The UNODC official further said that despite the 50 percent growth in the global opium production in 2013 compared to the previous year, Iran has performed brilliantly in fighting narcotics since some 80 percent of world opium seizures take place in Iran.
He said Iran could certainly serve as a role model for other world countries in anti-drugs campaign.
He said the Tehran ambassadors of the Mini-Dublin Group as well as the Economic Cooperation Organization are ready to work with Iran on anti-narcotics operations.
By IRNA
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