Regional security and stability conference begins

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP) are sponsoring a conference in Tashkent on 19 to 20 October to address security and stability in Central Asia, OSCE reported on Tuesday. The conference aims to enhance regional cooperation between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Representatives from 67 countries and 44 international organisation would be in attendance. An ODCCP representative told IRIN on Wednesday that the conference was “extremely important as it will discuss the links between drug trafficking, organised crime and terrorism in the region”. Countries of Central Asia are strengthening cooperation and coordination at national, regional and sub-regional levels and are adopting measures, particularly in law enforcement policies, to prevent and combat the phenomena of drug trafficking, crime and terrorism.