Russia’s drug control chief said on Thursday he had a problem with NATO’s reluctance to eliminate opium plantations in Afghanistan.
Head of the Federal Drug Control Service Viktor Ivanov criticized a NATO statement which said the organization would be prepared to destroy the plantations if the UN passed a special resolution, but that Afghan poppy farmers must not be left without means of livelihood.
“I had a long conversation with chairman of the [NATO] Military Committee Admiral Giampaolo di Paola, who said that NATO forces will eliminate opium plantations if this task is set by the UN,” Ivanov said.
“If there are no plantations, there will be no drug trafficking or heroin and opium in our countries,” he added.
However, he said NATO spokesman James Apparthurai announced today that the alliance cannot allow a situation where people in one of the world’s poorest nations are left without means of livelihood and receive no compensation.
“This touching concern about the Afghan peasants is surprising, to say the least,” Ivanov said.
