First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and chief of criminal police Oleh Pekarski was included in the list of the Belarusian officials, banned in EU countries. Nevertheless, he headed the Belarusian delegation at the 54th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, held in the Austrian capital Vienna on March 21-25.
During the event, Deputy Minister made a presentation on the Belarusian experience in fighting drug trafficking. In particular, he expressed the view that the EU and Belarus should enhance cooperation, rather than creating artificial borders, said the Interior Ministry.
«The creation of artificial borders between Belarus and the EU will lead to a lack of proper interaction between law enforcement and an increase in smuggling of drugs into the EU,» said Oleh Pekarski.
He’s also said that drug trafficking is characteristic of Belarus, and has informed about what ways the Belarusian specialists are struggling with it. The deputy minister has also added that about 50 drug trafficking channels were blocked in the country in 2010 and about 25 of them were organized for the transportation of intoxicants into the EU.
Oleh Pekarski has said that Belarus wants to study the experience of drug treatment, drug prevention and reduction of its consequences for society, which is available in European countries.
Tuesday, March 22, Belarusian Deputy Minister met with the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yuri Fedotov. They discussed the fight against drug trafficking, as well as cooperation within the framework of the International Training Centre for training in the field of migration and combating human trafficking and other problems.
As Telegraf reported, the EU visa sanctions have been imposed on 158 Belarusian officials since February 2. People, included in the list, are banned from entering the EU territory. The EU decided to add 19 more people in the list of banned Belarusian officials on March 21 «in connection with the deteriorating situation of human rights in Belarus.»
