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Heads of European Customs Investigation/Intelligence Service meet in Azerbaijan

23 September 2008 12:59 (UTC +04:00)

The two-day meeting gathered together representatives from 37 countries and 8 international and regional organizations.
Aydin Aliyev, Chairman of the Azerbaijan State Customs Committee, said at the outset that they have good and close cooperation with the WCO
He underlined that the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia created an uncontrolled zone for drug trafficking, smuggling, illegal migration etc.
Ziyad Samadzade, chairman of the parliament commission for economic policy, added that the country has set up a legal framework for the development of the customs sector.
Michel Dane, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization, stated that the meeting will dwell on a number of issues, including the fight against trafficking in counterfeit drugs, the use of scanners to monitor traffic and economic crimes on the EU eastern borders.
He noted that there will be presentations on a Fair Game Project, the role of Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC) in Afghan drugs on the â€œNorthern Routeâ€, activities of the workings groups under the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) etc.
He told reporters that that the world is currently concerned about illegal drug trafficking, smuggling and terrorism.
â€œTo this end, our organization, together with the customs authorities of member countries, prepares recommendations. This is the first meeting we are holding in the South Caucasus,â€ he added.
He also noted that the World Customs Organization supports the customs reforms in Azerbaijan.