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At the Kabul conference Russia suggested establishing a security belt around Afghanistan in order to reduce the flow of heroin to Russia, Europe and elsewhere, Mr Cherkesov said.

He informed the President that opiates, mostly heroin, account for almost two thirds of drugs circulated in Russia. Heroin is not made in Russia but smuggled in from abroad. So Russia was facing the strategic goal of cooperating with the neighbouring countries to erect barriers on the way of drug smuggling from Afghanistan. Russia and its Central Asian neighbours were already undertaking large-scale operations to block drug smuggling routes, and exchanging intelligence information.

Afghanistan did not possess sufficient means to curb drug production, and many countries found that US allocations to promote efforts against drug production were misspent.

Replying to the President’s question, Mr Cherkesov said that his committee should pay greater attention to the promulgation of anti-drug measures. Police alone could not cope with drug addiction, so it was also necessary to promote the relevant health services.