By Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter
Several national and international officials called for local, regional and global co-operation and partnerships to combat the issue of drug trafficking at the first Qatar International Anti-Drug Forum yesterday.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani opened the forum organised by the Ministry of Interior, under the theme “International experience in the detection of trafficking routes, itineraries and methods of concealment.”
HE Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi, the director-general of Public Security and chairman of the Permanent Committee for Drugs and Alcohol Affairs, stated that Qatar is keen to engage the international community to address the drug problem and reduce the spread of drugs all over the world.
He said: “Qatar has developed an anti-drug national strategy which takes care of all the dimensions of the drug problem. The drug issue is a very complicated one and its production as well as trafficking is widespread all over the world. Technology has made great advancements in modern life but the drug dealers are also making use of these facilities for their business deals.”  
Yuri Fedotov, executive director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) pointed out partnerships and co-operation between various agencies are the best ways to fight the issue.
He explained: “The Doha Declaration that was adopted at the recent Crime Congress, has emphasised this issue, as all member-states will spend maximum efforts on the basis of common principles and responsibilities to find a comprehensive and balanced approach based on local, regional and international co-operation and co-ordination between various security agencies to combat criminal gangs responsible for the production and drug trafficking process.”
He also pointed out that UNODC is in the process of enhancing the international efforts in the field of drug trafficking prevention by building a network through many initiatives and projects such as Geneva initiative which attempts to build strong partnership between Interpol and Europol among others.
He added that the ongoing discussions have highlighted the importance of having a comprehensive balanced mechanism that will focus on treating the drug problem, both in the production phase or smuggling stage, according to international conventions and human rights agreements.
Dr Jürgen Stock, the secretary general of the Interpol, highlighted the role of Interpol in dealing with the drug dealers. He also pointed out several observations and responses regarding some emerging challenges in drug and drug trafficking.
Justice Hatem Ali, head of GCC UNODC Office, said that the forum will explore ways to address the drug phenomenon and the modalities of co-operation in addressing them and making a united wall for counter-narcotics.

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