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Report for Central Asia COUNCIL OF Brussels, 30 June 2004 THE EUROPEAN UNION 10617/1/04 REV 1 CORDROGUE 46 NOTE by : Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to : Dublin group (meeting 22 June 2004) No. prev. doc.: 10617/04 CORDROGUE 46 Subject : Report for Central Asia CENTRAL DUBLIN GROUP MEETING - BRUSSELS, 22 JUNE 2004 DUBLIN GROUP REPORT FOR CENTRAL ASIA June 2004 PREPARED BY THE ITALIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS The following report, prepared by Italy as regional Chair for Central Asian Countries, is based on the information provided by the Mini Dublin Groups established in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, also covering, respectively, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The Italian Embassy in Moscow is competent for Turkmenistan. Italy stresses that to date no permanent MDGs in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are established. A Paris-Pact meeting, co-chaired by Italy as Regional Dublin Group Presidency, was held in Tashkent in April 2004. Italy invited Turkey to participate in the activities of regional and local DG groups in Central Asia as an “active observer” and this report also includes the contributions from the Turkish embassies in the region and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 10617/1/04 REV 1 JV/ils 1 DG H II EN SUMMARY The increased production of opium in Afghanistan is continuing to impact negatively on Central Asia, as demonstrated by the mounting seizures of heroin flowing into the region both for transit towards the profitable Russian and European markets and for the local illicit markets. As indicated in the previous report, a potential for a production problem also exists and should be always reminded by the international community. Cannabis and ephedra, and to a lesser extent opium poppy, grow wild in some areas. A limited cultivation (mainly opium poppy) was also detected in the region, notably in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. Criminal organisations have many opportunities for illicit traffics, especially concerning drugs, but also with reference to arms trafficking and the smuggling of human beings. International community should also better focus on the problem of the illicit traffic or diversion of precursors (especially acetic anhydride) destined to Afghanistan and imported mainly from China and Eastern Europe, but also locally manufactured. In this respect, the recent Paris Pact meeting (Tashkent, 27- 28 April 2004) was particularly useful. It was also helpful in providing a set of indications on priorities for international assistance and regional co-operation and in identifying the specific needs of the different countries concerning law enforcement and border control. As noted in previous reports, some positive results have been achieved by CA countries: they ratified the UN Drug Conventions, implemented national specific legislation, national comprehensive action plans or strategies are pursued. On the other hand border porosity, lack of training and modern equipment for law enforcement agencies, inadequate legislation against money laundering, corruption, economic difficulties and political tensions, insufficient regional and national co-ordination in anti-drug activities, are still important issues to be better tackled. The increased availability of drugs is boosting the abuse of narcotics in the region, especially among youth. Cannabis and opium are widely abused, but heroin is the emerging “drug of choice” in Central Asia, and the major cause for the spreading of HIV/AIDS as well. The governments of the region, even though more active in demand reduction strategies, are still insufficiently equipped to address prevention, treatment and rehabilitation requirements and they need assistance from the international community. 10617/1/04 REV 1 JV/ils 2 DG H II EN In Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, NGOs are playing an increasing role in this field and should be further supported. In general, activities in reducing drug demand remain fragmented and seem to receive less attention from international donors (with some exceptions). In any case, international assistance and co-operation proved to be essential in fostering CA countries capacities in law enforcement, border control and, recently, drug demand. But a lot of work still lies ahead: in particular, as already stressed by MDGs in previous reports, the Paris Pact meeting underlined the need to improve co-ordination in international assistance and efforts and made specific recommendations to this aim. Regional co-operation (particularly in law enforcement and intelligence co-ordination, in harmonising legislation) should be increased and fostered as well. The international community, especially the DG members, should continue to engage the five Republics in regional activities aiming also at confidence building and economic development. UNODC, EU and OSCE activities in this field should also be praised and further supported. The Regional Chair paid careful attention to some recent developments in Tajikistan, after a new DCA Director was appointed in February 2004, raising some concerns within international community of donors, and in the perspective of the gradual withdrawal of the Russian border guards from the Tajik/Afghan frontier. The Regional Chair continues to pay particular attention to Turkmenistan attitude, still uncooperative in releasing information and in actively collaborating in all regional co-operation efforts. Turkmen participation in the recent Paris Pact meeting in Tashkent should be noted as a positive development, but international efforts, especially from the DG members, should continue to focus on the problem of Turkmen co-operation at regional level. THE REGIONAL DIMENSION Several international and regional organisations or mechanisms, as well as bilateral donors are providing assistance at a regional level, favouring co-operation in the fight against the drug problem, other crimes and security issues. 10617/1/04 REV 1 JV/ils 3 DG H II EN 1. UNODC The Executive Director of UNODC, Antonio Maria Costa, paid an official visit to some Central Asian countries from (Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, plus Afghanistan) 24 to 29 May, in order to review the drug control and crime prevention situation in the region. He confirmed the United Nations is especially concerned that the heroin trafficking from Afghanistan is causing growing drug abuse in the region, with a dramatic escalation of the HIV/AIDS threat. He also urged the countries of Central Asia to engage in much greater regional cooperation to prevent further damage. UNODC is in the process of elaborating a new strategic framework (2004-2007) for Central Asia. The UNODC Regional Office in Tashkent circulated a draft of this document during the last MDG meeting in Tashkent (April 2004). The strategy reflects the several consultations held by UNODC with different stakeholders and inputs emerging from the Paris Pact meeting, MDG sessions and other relevant fora UNODC drug reduction and crime prevention assistance priorities for Central Asia are focused on: – strengthening border controls in Central Asian countries neighbouring Afghanistan; – promoting cross border cooperation, including operational coordination at national, regional and international levels; – improving drugs and crime prevention mechanisms. UNODC in Central Asia also provides legal advisory services and precursor control support. In the area of demand reduction, UNODC is launching several new regional projects, which will enhance government capacities in monitoring and evaluation, promoting best practices in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, supporting the diversified services for various target groups and establishing an Addiction Research and Training Institute for Central Asia (ARTICA). The total budget for proposed and ongoing UNODC projects is more than US$ 35 million. 10617/1/04 REV 1 JV/ils 4 DG H II EN 2. PARIS PACT INITIATIVE Under the Paris Pact initiative, UNODC organised in Tashkent the first 2004 Experts Round Table (27-28 April), focused on drug routes in Central Asia. All the five republics, including Turkmenistan, attended the event. The meeting, co-chaired by Italy in its capacity as Regional DG Chair, was successful in examining and identifying the main problems in the area, in particular strategic objectives and priority sectors for international assistance. It is also to be observed The following main priorities were stressed: – The need for enhancing national coordination: in this respect, the Drug Control Agency in Tajikistan was considered a model for the countries in the region, as also shown by the similar UNODC initiative undertaken in Kyrgyzstan; – Increasing and developing regional cooperation as a key objective In this respect, it was underlined the importance of the UNODC project to establish a Central Asian Regional Information and Co-ordination Centre (CARICC). The Centre would facilitate the regional exchange of intelligence and information, promoting co-ordination, with a view to the possibility of joint operations. CARICC would also co-operate with foreign Drug Liaison Officers (DLOs) and other representatives of the international community. Unfortunately, the project is being delayed by recent problems between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on which country will be hosting the Centre. – Foster-ing of border control, especially along Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, neighbouring countries of Afghanistan, in particular strengthening transborder cooperation; – The need to foster the fight against the trafficking in precursors, which are smuggled in Afghanistan mainly from China
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