Russia to step up anti-drug coop with Afghanistan - envoy.

19/11 Tass 250

MOSCOW, November 19 (Itar-Tass) - Russia will step up multifaceted
cooperation with Afghanistan in the fight against drugs, Russia's
ambassador to Kabul, Andrei Avetisyan, said in an exclusive interview with
Itar-Tass on Friday.
"We will continue to develop multifaceted cooperation with Afghanistan
not only in joint operations, but also in other aspects of the fight
against drugs - information exchange, drug trafficking interception and
destruction of drug-containing crops and drug laboratories," he said.
"This cooperation also stipulates the training of Afghanistan's drug
police that is conducted in Russia within the framework of joint projects
with NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,"
the diplomat said.
Avetisyan reiterated that "this year 225 Afghan police officers were
invited by the Russian Interior Ministry to undergo training in different
higher education institutions."
He underlined that "Russia strengthens cooperation in the fight
against drugs, mainly with Afghanistan." "Besides this, multifaceted
cooperation with participation of the United States will be also further
developed."
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