DUSHANBE, July 24, 2012, Asia-Plus – On Monday July 23, Rustam Nazarov, the Director of the Drug Control Agency (DCA) under the President of Tajikistan, met here with Ambassador Patricia Flor, the European Union (EU) Special Representative for Central Asia, and her predecessor Ambassador Pierre Morel, the DCA press center reported.
In the course of the talks, Tajik drug control chief reportedly briefed the guests on the current drug situation in Tajikistan, Afghanistan and the Central Asian region as a whole.
He also informed them of interaction between Tajik law enforcement authorities and the law enforcement agencies of neighboring countries in combating drug trafficking.
General Rustamov also informed them of measures taken by the Government of Tajikistan to fight drug trafficking as well as activities and achievements of Tajik counternarcotics agency.
During the meeting, the sides also touched upon issues related to bilateral and regional cooperation in combating terrorism and extremism as well as prospects of further expansion of cooperation after withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan in 2014, the source said.
Mrs. Flor is a senior German diplomat with almost 20 years” experience who has focused her career extensively on the countries of the former Soviet Union, in particular Central Asia. Since March 2011, she has been Germany”s Special Envoy for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.
Mrs. Flor took office on July 1, 2012, with her mandate initially running until June 30, 2013. She is the second woman to be appointed as EU Special Representative.
The task of the EU Special Representative is to promote good relations between the EU and Central Asian countries and to strengthen stability, cooperation, democracy and respect for human rights in the region. In particular, the EU Special Representative coordinates EU action in Central Asia and oversees the implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia.
