The International Conference on the Fight with Pirated Medicines started its work in Baku today. Trend reports, that the event is organized by the World Customs Organization (WCO) jointly with the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.
The conference is intended for the mobilization of forces to attract the attention of the society with such a serious issue as sale of pirated and false medicines, as well as finding solutions on preventing it through taking international efforts.
Giving a welcome speech, Aydin Aliyev, the Chairman of the State Customs Committee, said that the main achievement of the Azerbaijan Customs Service had been joining to the World customs family.
Organizing and holding such arrangements is extremely important not only to Azerbaijan but also to the entire World taking into consideration the topicality of the subject of the present conference, said Mr. A. Aliyev.
Ali Hassanov, the Vice-Premier of the Azerbaijan Government, highlighted his attention on the fact of the social and economic development in Azerbaijan, and said that the growth of GDP in 2005 made up 26 % and 35% in 2006. Azerbaijan international relations are dynamically developing in all spheres. The country is successfully implementing the State Programme on the Social and Economic Development of the Regions of the Country. Within the program, 173,000 new jobs became available in 2006. Starting from October, 2003 up to date, their total number has reached 520,000.
Touching the issue on holding the conference, the representative of the Azerbaijan Government considers that it is very important and actual issue today.
Selling pirated and false medicines is a crime against humanity, and we should fight with it not separately, but jointly, said Mr. Hassanov.
Michelle Daneau, the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), said that it was a very pleasant fact that the Azerbaijan Government has initiated holding such arrangement itself by attaching social arrangements to it such as, organizing concerts for charitable purposes.
Azerbaijan is comparably young country, but it is located on the crossroads of the key transit routes. Therefore, the conference is of a great importance both to Azerbaijan and all the participants of the current arrangement, said Mr. Daneau. The conference is expected to complete its work on February 9.