Historical background to the document "From the talk of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev in Vienna in the mission of the United Nations with the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Director General of the mission Pino Arlacci" (Vienna, July 7, 2000)

Azerbaijan cooperates with the United Nations in the struggle against drug trafficking and money laundering. Azerbaijan acts jointly activity within the frames of the United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP). The Azerbaijani government is fighting steadily against drug crime. Azerbaijan is a part of the United Nations Conventions of 1961, 1971 and 1988 against the illegal drug circulation of drugs. (http://www.mia.gov.az/)

Azerbaijan is located on the main transit aroads used by the drug smugglers. Besides, it is reported thatdrug plants are grown and smuggling is widespread in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia. (http://www.hri.org/)

In August 1996, a state commission on fighting the crimes related to drugs was established by decree of the President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. In the same year the leader of the UNDCP program visited Azerbaijan and the foundation of the future close cooperation between the agency and Azerbaijan was laid. (ibid.)

The President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev signed an agreement on joining the UNDCP project for combating drug trafficking and money laundering in the region, during his visit to Vienna. From the United Nations the agreement was signed by the UN Deputy Secretary- General, director of the Vienna representation of the organization, the head of the UN office of Drug Control and Crime Combating (presently the UN Office for Drug and Crime) Pino Arlacci. (http://www.unis.univienna.org/)

A comprehensive talk was held between Heydar Aliyev and Pino Arlacci about the Azerbaijani-UN cooperation in combating aganst illegal drug circulation, money laundering and terrorism in Azerbaijan. Talking about Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Azerbaijani head of the state expressed his discontent with such a fact that four UN Security Council resolutions adopted by the Security Council of the United Nat. Pino Arlacci said he would inform the UN Secretary General about it.

An international conference on drug control was held in Azerbaijan in December 2003. The head of the UN Office for Drug and Crime Antonio Mario Costa attended the conference. (http://www.un-az.org/)

Historical background was compiled on February 8, 2007.