Anti-Drug Initiative to be Held in Yerevan with CSTO Representatives

An anti-drug initiative titled “Canal-Araks,” aimed at combating the illegal trafficking of narcotics by member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), has been held in Yerevan. This information was reported by the press service of the Police of Armenia.

The advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Vardan Movsesyan, welcomed the participants on behalf of the Minister of Internal Affairs and wished them productive work during his opening speech.

“Mikhail Melikhov, advisor to the CSTO Secretariat, also conveyed a message from the CSTO Secretary General, emphasizing the importance of such initiatives, noting that significant results have been achieved over the past 20 years, with large quantities of narcotics identified and seized. The participants discussed several issues related to the regional anti-drug initiative. The presentation included the procedure for conducting the planned exercises and the pre-developed protocol,” stated the press release.

The event was attended by representatives from Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, as well as delegations from the CSTO Secretariat, and officials from Armenia's National Security Service (NSS), State Revenue Committee (SRC), Central Bank, and Security Council. Observers from China, the CIS, and Interpol were also present.

During the event, participants signed memoranda of cooperation.