The Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP) continues its series of Technical Committee meetings, bringing together key stakeholders to assess the progress of ongoing activities, gather feedback from national partners, and discuss the strategic direction for a possible future implementation of the Programme. The latest meeting took place at the Archabil Hotel in Ashgabat, convening representatives from the European Union (EU) and the Government of Turkmenistan.

The event was attended by key stakeholders, including the DG INTPA European Commission, EU Delegations to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Turkmenistan as well as government representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Healthcare and Medical Industry, Ministry of National Security, General Prosecutor’s Office, State Migration Service, State Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, and the Youth Organization of Turkmenistan named after Makhtumkuli. Civil society organizations such as “Yenme,” “Ynamly Egindesh,” and “Yash Yardamchy” also participated in the discussions.

Mr. Yakyp Saparov, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, opened the meeting by emphasizing Turkmenistan’s role as a hub for multilateral forums and discussions on healthy lifestyle and drug-related issues. He expressed appreciation for CADAP’s contribution, particularly through the Regional Conference on Strengthening the Capacity of Community and Penitentiary Services in Substance Use Treatment and Prevention (November 26-27, 2024) and the International Conference on Substance Use, Supply Reduction, and Expertise Building in Central Asia (November 27-28, 2024). These events, held at the Archabil Hotel in Ashgabat, brought together specialists from Central Asia, the EU, and Latin America.

In his remarks, Mr. Borislav Dimitrov, Programme Manager at the EU Delegation to Turkmenistan, acknowledged the Government of Turkmenistan’s efforts in combating drug trafficking and consumption while contributing to regional stability. He reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting evidence-based drug policies, strengthening national capacities, and fostering regional cooperation in Central Asia.

Mr. Cosimo Lamberti, Programme Manager at the EU Delegation to Kyrgyzstan, highlighted Turkmenistan’s growing significance as a neutral venue for international dialogues on sensitive issues, including security and drug-related challenges.

The meeting also included discussions on key achievements, shared perspectives from stakeholders, and strategic planning for the upcoming year. In addition to the plenary discussions, bilateral meetings were held with representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Healthcare and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan.

These sessions provided an opportunity to present detailed insights into the future cooperation between the Turkmen authorities and the EU and to discuss the ongoing activities of the Programme with national partners.

CADAP remains committed to enhancing regional cooperation, strengthening national capacities, and implementing evidence-based approaches in tackling drug-related challenges across Central Asia.