Russia, Iran set to cooperate in anti-drug fight
MOSCOW. Dec 8 (Interfax) - Russia and Iran think alike on many important global affairs and Moscow expects to cooperate with Tehran in fighting Afghan heroin, Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN) Director Viktor Ivanov said.
"We are reaching a whole new level of cooperation," Ivanov told Iranian Interior Minister, head of the national anti-drug staff Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli in Moscow on Monday.
"Russia gives very serious attention to the development of relations with Iran. We see Iran as an important element of regional peace. Russia and Iran have similar positions on the unipolar world order, stronger relations at the UN and the Syrian peace process," Ivanov said.
Russia and Iran are successfully cooperating in the fight against drugs within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Caspian Five.
According to the Iranian minister, Tehran regards Moscow as a major partner in drug control efforts. He also said it was necessary to draw up a new anti-drug program which would involve Russia, Iran and Central Asian states.
"We are headed in the same direction on the questions of Syria and Iraq," Fazli said.
