UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME TO OPEN NEW COUNTRY OFFICE IN TEHRAN
Press Release
SOC/NAR/793
UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME TO OPEN NEW COUNTRY OFFICE IN TEHRAN
19990127 VIENNA, 27 January (UN Information Service) -- To boost cooperation in the common fight against production, trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs, the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) will be setting up a new country office in Tehran.A Memorandum of Understanding to dedicate the new office was signed by the Secretary-General of Iran's Drug Control Headquarters, Mohammad Fallah, and Pino Arlacchi, Executive Director of the United Nations Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention, on 26 January in Vienna. The Ambassador of Iran to the United Nations in Vienna, Mohammad Amirkhizi, was also present at the ceremony.
"The decision to establish a country office in Tehran was taken in recognition of the crucial role played by the Islamic Republic of Iran in the common fight against illicit drugs and of the excellent level of cooperation between Iran and the UNDCP", Mr. Arlacchi said after the signing.
Mr. Fallah stressed that the new office in his country would strengthen cooperation in drug control. "We greatly appreciate UNDCP's serious approach and the constructive attitude of the UNDCP's Executive Director towards the drug issue", he said.
The office, which should begin operating within a few weeks, will promote UNDCP programmes and projects at the national level, develop a strategic framework for cooperation between the Iranian authorities and the UNDCP and support, as well as monitor, drug control programmes and projects in the country.
Iran, which has lost more than 2,000 people over the past 20 years in the fight against illicit drug production and trafficking, reported a considerable increase in seizures of illicit substances in 1998. During the past year, it has also launched several educational and prevention programmes in demand reduction.
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