Afghan opium and the heroin derived from it remain a serious threat to the neighbouring countries. The highest heroin addiction rates in the world are in this region, not in Europe or North America. Afghanistan is also the source for most of the heroin that reaches the CIS countries and Central and Western Europe. We continue to work in Afghanistan. In fact, in three districts where we operate alternative development pilot projects, the area under poppy decreased by 50 per cent.
Alternative development can work in Afghanistan .
But we do not have adequate funds to continue even these modest activities. These activities are in jeopardy if we do not receive new contributions for Afghanistan. We have intensified our work with the countries around Afghanistan, in an effort to create a barrier to Afghan opiates and to help these countries protect themselves from the effects of drug trafficking. Although we have excellent cooperation with all the countries that border Afghanistan, I will only mention the case of Tajikistan. We have helped the Government create a new Drug Control Agency.