Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 10 / Trend T. Jafarov /
Iran will prepare and implement an expanded program for the border areas to prevent smuggling and trade with neighboring countries, Iranian Commander of Border Forces, Gen. Hossein Zolfaghari told Trend.
"The Supreme Council for National Security has recently instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to prepare an expanded program to provide long-term security in the border regions of the country," he said.
The general said that at present, 7 working groups are working for 6 months to create a program with the participation of representatives of ministries, various institutions, and executive authorities.
According to the statistics of the Iranian organization for the fight against smuggling, goods worth $19 billion were smuggled in 2009 through the border. The main reason of smuggling from Iran to other countries was allocating of subsidies in the energy sector.
The law on increasing energy prices in the country and the project on subsidies are under execution for two months; thus, energy prices were increased. Their smuggling, in terms of an economic point of view, is disadvantageous for smugglers.
All the issues were taken into account in the project "Expanded program for the border regions of the country." The program will reflect the improvement of living standards of citizens living in border areas, the development and improvement of border regions, agriculture, industry, strengthening the borders, increase the power of the border guards, and other issues," he said.
A number of ongoing activities arising from the requirements of the program are implemented now, he said.
"We have established small markets for people living in border areas that have potential.
According to our information, people living in border areas are satisfied with the functioning of these markets," he said.
The upcoming program will reduce illegal activities in border areas, he said.
"We believe that illegal activities will be ceased if conditions for the legitimate activities of the population of border areas are created," he said.