Northern Afghan governor backs poppy eradication plans - full report.
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An Afghan northern governor has called for borders to be closed to international drugs smugglers in order to help eradicate the drugs trade. Speaking at a meeting of anti-drugs officials and regional representatives Balkh Province Governor Atta Mohammad said that the reason for poppy cultivation was the poor state of the economy, the previous dominance of the Taleban and the fact that the borders were open to foreign drug smugglers. He gave his “full backing” to resolutions to fight poppy cultivation. The head of the Afghan anti-drugs department, Mohammad Zaher Aghbar, described drug cultivation as a political problem. The following is an excerpt of report by Afghan Balkh Province television on 2 September 04; subheadings inserted editorially: [Presenter] First of all, I welcome the head of the anti-drugs department of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan and his entourage to Mazar-e Sharif. We begin our function with some verses from the holy Koran. [Passage omitted: some verses from the Koran; participants stand for the national anthem and the presenter gives the floor to Balkh Governor Ustad Atta Mohammad] [Ustad Atta Mohammad reads the Koran] With the kind permission of [Mohammad Zaher] Aghbar, head of the anti-drugs department; his entourage; foreign guests; representatives of the British foreign ministry; high-ranking officials from the northern provinces; elders; sisters and respected scholars. First, I welcome my dear brothers and our foreign guests to Balkh’s historic city. I am very happy to attend a meeting about very harmful drugs. The delegation has taken the initiative to get rid of this harmful drug both in our country and in the world. I give my full backing to the resolutions that have been adopted by the government. I am ready to fight poppy cultivation. I will use my energy and my facilities to eradicate this harmful drug. We will fight against the drug since this is against Islam and… More : accessmylibrary.com |