2nd Regional Steering Committee of Central ASIA Drug Action Programme (CADAP) held in Astana

The meeting was attended by the heads of relevant departments of the Central Asia. Iryskeldy Dzhandarbekov, vice chairman of the anti-drugs and narcotics control of the Kazakhstan Interior Ministry, delivered a speech from Kazakhstan's side. EU experts - Dr. Tomas Zabransky (DAMOS) Mr. Marcus Martens (tritium), Mr. Peter Jablonski (Medissa), Dr. Ingo Ilja Michels talked about the work program and plans for the future, the press service of the EU Delegation in Kazakhstan reports.

"The European Union actively supports the initiatives of the governments of Central Asian countries to develop effective integrated strategies in the sphere of drugs. CADAP program is the basis for a regional approach that combines capacity building at regional level and national level activities based on identified needs of these countries" - said Ambassador Norbert Jousten, head of the EU Delegation in Kazakhstan.

In one year after the start of the fifth phase of the drug prevention in Central Asia (CADAP) program has achieved significant results. All three thematic components of the program CADAP 5 successfully completed more than 25 events (seminars, workshops, conferences, study trips) in all five Central Asian countries in line with the findings obtained during the initial assessment phase and the corresponding work plan. Close cooperation between the acknowledged experts from the European Union, the national coordinators in the region and project management provided the basis for the results achieved today. All feedback from partners from Central Asia and the stakeholders involved and cooperating with CADAP is very positive and promising. Details of the components are in the applications on the website.

Annual Meeting of the Regional Steering Committee is significant for maintaining and improving the political commitment of the program in the Central Asian countries, as well as for engaging in dialogue and informing the important political parties. Additionally, all program partners will discuss the progress made to date and a joint working plan for the coming year.

The overall objective of the EU CADAP 5 programme is the provision of the best European and international practices of contemporary drug policy programs and contribution to reducing the drug-related problems in Central Asia. The program is funded by the European Union and by the German Society for International Cooperation of the "Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)".