Azerbaijan, Baku, July 28 / Trend J. Babayeva /
Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia turned into center of organized criminality, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister, Khalaf Khalafov, said at the Cabinet of Ministers' meeting of the State Commission for Combat against Drug Addiction.
"Occupied territories are used not only for growing, distribution and traffic of drugs but for preparation of the international terror groups," Khalafov said.
Corresponding state agencies must use international experience in combat against drug addiction and illegal turnover of drugs, deputy minister said. "Modern forms of combat against drug addiction and illegal turnover of drugs must be applied in Azerbaijan," Khalafov said.
Azerbaijani social-economic potential allows strengthening activity in combat against drug addiction and illegal turnover of drugs, deputy minister said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7 districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.