(United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Cooperation between AZERBAIJAN AND UNODC
and related UN bodies in Vienna
Relations between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and UNODC as wel as other related international bodies, such as INCB, CCPCJ, CND etc, were established in 1995 and date a positive cooperative track record.
Since 1995 the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to UN and other International Organizations represents Azerbaijan in UNODC as well as covers the cooperation of Azerbaijani Government with such international bodies as International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ).
Azerbaijan ratified (acceded to) the following three UN conventions - main international legal instruments in the field of global fight against illicit drug trafficking:
- Single Convention on narcotic drugs dated 1961;
- Convention on Psychotropic Substances dated 1971;
- Convention on Illegal Circulation of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances dated 1988.
Azerbaijan also ratified all major universal conventions and protocols in the field of fight against terrorism as well as those related to counter other forms of crime including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its 3 Protocols hereto as well as the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). (Detailed information on ratification of concrete convention is given below).
Establishment of the State Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and Illegal Circulation of Narcotic Substances (State Drug Control Commission) by the decree of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated from 26 August, 1996 very positively contributed to the intensification of collaboration between Azerbaijan and UNODC, strengthened bilateral relations.
On August 27-28, 1996 Executive director of UNODC H.E. Mr. Giorgio Giacomelli paid an official visit to Azerbaijan and met President of the Republic of Azerbaijan H.E. H.Aliyev, related ministers and other high-ranking officials.
Representatives of the relevant bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan consistantly take active part in various annual and other meetings of different related international structures based in Vienna:
- Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)
- Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ)
- International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)
- Intergovernmental Expert Group Meetings on varios aspects of drug control and crime prevention
Delegations of Azerbaijan also regularly attend and actively participate at the following meetings:
- Meetings in the framework of UNODC’s Paris Pact Initiative (Regional Round Tables, Annual Policy Consultative Meetings etc.)
- Meetings of the Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (HONLEA) for Europe
- Meetings of the Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (HONLEA) for Asia and Pacific
- Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the near and Middle East (Subordinate body of the CND)
- Sessions of the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC)
- Sessions of the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNTOC)
Government of Azerbaijan also attaches great importance to the UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UNGIFT) and Global Vienna Forum on UNGIFT which is scheduled to take place in Vienna on 13-15 February, 2008. Government of Azerbaijan is planning to contribute to UNGIFT as well as actively participate at the mentioned Global event in 2008.
Statement by I. Aliyev, Head of the Delegation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, at the 48-th Session of the Commission of the Narcotic Drugs, March 7-14, 2005
Presentation of Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting, January 26-28,2005