Press Release

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(Washington, D.C.)—Today, Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy, met with his counterpart from Russia, Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN) Director Viktor Ivanov, to discuss increased cooperation between the United States and Russia. During their meeting in Moscow this July, President Obama and President Medvedev named Director Kerlikowske and Director Ivanov as Co-Chairs of the Drug Trafficking Working Group of the US-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission. Today's meeting was a positive first step in bringing the two nations closer in their efforts to address the shared problem of drug trafficking and abuse.

During the meeting, Director Kerlikowske shared the Obama Administration's new approach to developing the National Drug Control Strategy to be released in February 2010. The Administration expects to place additional emphasis on prevention and treatment, while working to reduce supply both domestically and internationally. The Russian Government is also in the process of developing a new drug control strategy, and the two directors exchanged ideas on ways to enhance prevention, treatment, and enforcement efforts.

Both Directors acknowledged that Russia and Europe face a growing threat of illegal drug trafficking from Afghanistan. "The threat of illegal drugs originating in Afghanistan extends well beyond Afghanistan's borders," Director Kerlikowske stated, "as demonstrated by growing drug addiction rates and the pervasive threat of criminal activity that threatens the health and safety of those in destination countries such as Russia." The United States is currently developing a new comprehensive strategy to enhance its support to the Government of Afghanistan in combating the illegal drug trade.

Director Kerlikowske also thanked the Russian Government for signing the framework documents which will allow Russia to participate in the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center (CARICC). "Countering the threat of illegal drugs in the region requires better collaboration and information sharing among transit states," Director Kerlikowske relayed. "We view the CARICC as the best mechanism to integrate counternarcotics intelligence in Central Asia and Eurasia."

The U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission is chaired by President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Secretary of State Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov serve as the Commission's coordinators, overseeing the work of various issue-specific bilateral working groups, to include the Drug Trafficking Working Group co-chaired by Director Kerlikowske and Director Ivanov.

More information about the Drug-Free Communities Program is available at: www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/dfc