THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE EVALUATED THE ROLE OF AZERBAIJAN AS A TRANSIT TERRITORY

Source: TURAN news agency (Baku), March 4, 2006
Translated by A. Ignatkin

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
March 9, 2006 Thursday

According to the annual report “2006: International Drug Control
Strategy” by the US Department of State, Azerbaijan is located along
the traffic routes from Afghanistan and Central Asia to West Europe
and from Iran to Russia and West Europe. Local production of drugs
does not amount to too much but consumption is growing. Role of
Azerbaijan as a transit territory grew enormously several years
ago when the so called Balkans Route was closed. According to
the government of Azerbaijan, drugs shipped via the country are
mostly drugs made in Afghanistan. The main routes run in the
following manner: Afghanistan-Iran-Azerbaijan-Georgia-West
Europe; Afghanistan-Iran-Nagorno Karabakh and occupied
territories of Azerbaijan-Armenia-Georgia-West Europe;
Afghanistan-Iran-Azerbaijan-Russia; Afghanistan-Central Asia-Caspian
Sea-Azerbaijan-Georgia-West Europe. Azerbaijan has 611 kilometers of
state border with Iran, but its border guards are poorly trained or
equipped for proper border protection. Iranian and other traffickers
make use of this situation.

The Azerbaijani police force lacks equipment for and experience in
combating terrorism. Authors of the report maintain that control of
the Azerbaijani-Iranian border is not sufficient to dam the flood
of drugs. Corruption in Azerbaijan is blamed as one of the serious
reasons impeding the war on drugs. Anti-corruption structures of the
Azerbaijani prosecutor’s office are quite limited in their capacities
and understaffed. Azerbaijan subscribed to the major international
conventions and accords on the wars on corruption, organized crime,
and traffic. In 2005, the United States provided advice and material
assistance to the Azerbaijani Service of Border Guards and Customs
Committee to boost efficiency of control over illegal traffic and
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Official Washington
intends to continue its assistance to Azerbaijan in these spheres,
the report stated.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress