CENTRAL ASIAN REGIONAL INFORMATION AND COORDINATION CENTRE

Operational achievements

Thursday, 24 December 2009

Recently, the State Customs Service (SCS) under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic initiated international operation, which was coordinated by CARICC. The operation on dismantling trans-border drug trafficking channel involved competent authorities of Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Ukraine.
In this regard Major General Akmatov, the Chairman of the Kyrgyz SCS sent a letter to Lt. General Sarsekov, CARICC Director with gratitude to CARICC for the coordination of efforts of the competent authorities in the course of multilateral operation and expressed hope for further fruitful cooperation in the field of countering the illicit drug trafficking.

Meeting with the Ambassador of Finland to Kazakhstan

Wednesday, 23 December 2009

On December 21, 2009 Mr. Mikko Kinnunen, the Ambassador of Finland to Kazakhstan, and Mr. Murat Ramazanov, Honorary Consul of Finland in Almaty paid a visit to CARICC. The purpose of the meeting was to receive an update on the CARICC activities. Finland, being granted the observer status at Centre, is the one of the donors of the UNODC project on CARICC establishment. A liaison officer of Finland based in Moscow was tasked to ensure both the informational and operational cooperation both with the Centre and with the competent agencies of member states, observers and other partners.
In the course of the meeting Mr. Sarsekov briefed on Centre’s activities in the region, recent operations and achievements of CARICC.
Mr. Kinnunen assured that Finland would further support CARICC and its activities to promote law enforcement cooperation.

THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE

Friday, 11 December 2009

MESSAGE TO EIGHTH MEETING
OF THE MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
OF MEMBER STATES OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
ON SUBREGIONAL DRUG CONTROL COOPERATION
AND THE INAUGURATION OF THE CENTRAL ASIA
REGIONAL INFORMATION AND COORDINATION CENTRE (CARICC)
Almaty, 8 - 9 December 2009

Delivered by Mr. Miroslav Jenca Special Representative of the Secretary-General
and Head of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA)

It is a pleasure to send greetings to the distinguished ministers and others participating in this important regional meeting.

The world is deeply concerned by the impact of illegal drugs on Afghanistan. At the same time, we must not lose sight of the dangerous consequences for Afghanistan’s neighbours.

As we all know, a major heroin trafficking route runs through Central Asia, from Afghanistan to Russia. This illicit trade poses a threat to security by enriching and empowering criminal groups and anti-government forces. It undermines development by creating instability and widening corruption. And it poses a risk to health by spreading drug addiction and HIV.

For more than a decade, the United Nations has supported the development of national drug control agencies and other law enforcement bodies in Central Asia. But no country can tackle this threat alone. This transnational problem requires a regional solution. That was the inspiration for the Memorandum of Understanding that has now resulted in the creation of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre.

I therefore welcome the inauguration of CARICC in Almaty. This Centre will facilitate the exchange of intelligence to identify and disrupt trafficking networks, strengthen regional criminal justice capacity, and build security and confidence among neighbours. I thank the Government and people of Kazakhstan, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and all the parties to the Memorandum of Understanding for their role in making this Centre possible. The activities of the Centre also offer an opportunity to strengthen partnership among organizations active in the region, including the United Nations, SCO, the OSCE, the EU, NATO, CSTO, CIS, ECO and others.

The UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia is another important part of this picture. Its establishment demonstrates the UN's strong will to support peace, security and prosperity in the region. The Centre will continue providing political support to the work of the CARICC, and will do its part to address cross-border threats, including those associated with drug trafficking.

I encourage all states affected by Afghanistan’s opium to make the CARICC work and thereby cut the flow of drugs from Afghanistan. I look forward to working with all partners in fulfilling this shared responsibility.

Memorandums of Understanding were signed with ATC CIS and the SECI Centre

Friday, 11 December 2009

подписания меморандума On December 8, 2009 CARICC Council members witnessed a ceremony of signing the Memorandum of Understanding between CARICC and the Antiterrorist Centre of the CIS (ATC CIS) by the CARICC Director Mr. Beksultan Sarsekov and the Head of ATC CIS Mr. Andrew Novikov.

At the same day, the Memorandum of Understanding between CARICC and the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative Centre for Combating Trans-border Crime (SECI Centre) was also signed by the CARICC Director.

CARICC Inauguration Ceremony

Wednesday, 09 December 2009

inauguration On December 9, 2009 the Central Asia Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating the Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC) was inaugurated in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Mr. Kairat Umarov, Deputy
Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Mr. Francis Maertens, heads of national competent agencies of CARICC member states, competent international organisations and representatives of diplomatic missions, accredited in Kazakhstan attended the ceremony.
The Government of Kazakhstan granted to the Centre a building with the total area of more than 3870 sq m. and allocated 410,000,000 tenge ($2,700,000) from the reserve fund for its renovation.