VIENNA - Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu came to Vienna on Tuesday to participate in meeting of the United Nations Office for Drug Control to be held on the ministerial level.
Aksu, who held a press conference at the Turkey Permanent Representation at the U.N. Office in Vienna, said that PKK/KADEK terrorist organization played an active role in illicit drug trafficking especially in European countries.
Stating that he would focus on importance of international cooperation to fight against illicit drug trafficking, terrorism, organized crimes, money laundering, smuggling of weapons at the meeting which would be held on Wednesday and Thursday, Aksu said that he would draw attention of his counterparts to the issue that PKK/KADEK terrorist organization played an active role in illicit drug trafficking especially in European countries to finance its terrorist activities at the meeting.
Touching on Turkey's fight against illicit drug trafficking, Aksu said, ''illicit drug trafficking is an issue to which Turkey attributes great importance,'' and noted that Turkey was located in a geography, which was affected most by illicit drug trafficking and other problems stemming from it.
Aksu said that they achieved significant successes in fight against use of drugs and illicit drug trafficking by great efforts of law implementation units and other relevant organizations in Turkey and noted, ''a success at a certain level can be achieved by national efforts in fight against illicit drug. As long as demand and supply for illicit drug continue, drug trafficking can be prevented at a certain point.''
Stressing that drug traffickers were searching for new routes and strategy, Aksu said that's why bilateral, regional and international cooperation was very important in fight against illicit drug trafficking.
Recalling that Turkey had a productive cooperation with the United Nations Office for Drug Control and with United Nations International Drug Control Program, Aksu said that they wanted this cooperation to be further improved.
Aksu will attend the 46th term meeting of the United Nations Office for Drug Control to be held on the ministerial level in Vienna on Wednesday and Thursday.
(EÖ-UK) 15.04.2003