DUSHANBE, November 29, 2013  -- An informal meeting of chiefs of counternarcotics agencies of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, China, the United States, and Turkey has opened in Dushanbe today, according to Tajikistan’s Drug Control Agency (DCA).

Representatives of the UN Office n Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union (EU) are also attending the meeting, which is planned to work out common approaches to stabilize the situation and counter the drug expansion in the region after withdrawal of the international coalition troops from Afghanistan in 2014.

Inaugurating the meeting, Tajik Security Council Secretary Abdurahim Qahhorov read out a complementary address of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

In his address, Tajik leader, in particular, calls on international community to combine efforts against the drug trafficking.  President Rahmon proposed to name the Dushanbe meeting the dialogue to counter drug trafficking.

The meeting participants are exchanging views on the current drug situation in the region and preparedness of the sides for taking adequate anti-drug measures.

The meeting participants are expected to adopt a joint statement.