African Union Commissioners for Peace and Security and Social Affairs receive Russian Federation Director of the Federal Drug Control Service

The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security, Amb. Smail Chergui and the Commissioner for Social Affairs, Dr. Mustapha Kaloko, received the Director of the Federal Drug Control Service of the Russian Federation, Mr. Victor Ivanov, at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, on 8 October 2015.

The Parties discussed the fight against the trafficking of illicit narcotics, psychotropic substances and their precursors in AU Member States and the Russian Federation, and noted that the drug problem poses a serious threat to national and international peace and security. They highlighted the growing link between terrorism and drug trafficking and other related transnational crimes whose profits serve to finance terrorist and extremist organizations.

Furthermore, the AU and Russian delegations noted with dismay the nefarious effects of narcotics on the health and well-being of millions of people, especially the youth. Narcotics consumption and trafficking also undermines the sustainable economic, political and social development of AU Member States and the Russian Federation, they emphasized.

In light of the above, it was agreed that AU Member States and the Russian Federation should enhance anti-drug cooperation ahead of the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on drugs in 2016. In this regard, a second international conference dubbed “Russia-Africa Anti-Drug Dialogue” will be organized in the Republic of South Africa, under the auspices of the African Union.

The parties agreed to deliver a unified position at the UN Special Session that takes into account the outcomes of the Moscow Ministerial Anti-Drug Conference and the aforementioned upcoming international conference in South Africa.

The parties also agreed to establish a high level group to institutionalize their cooperation.