OSCE Mission to Skopje helps municipalities implement national strategy on tackling drug abuse

SKOPJE, 30 January 2008 - Action plans aimed at implementing the national strategy on tackling drug abuse in municipalities of Ilinden and Petrovec were presented to the public today at a roundtable in Skopje.

These action plans were designed by the representatives from the Ministries of Interior, Health and Education and judiciary together with municipal officials and local police. The project is supported by the OSCE Mission to Skopje.

"This initiative could be the beginning of even greater co-operation between communities and authorities in their joint fight against illicit drugs," said Philip Tolson, the Head of the Mission's Police Development Unit.

Ilco Zahariev, the Director of the anti-Drug Department of the Ministry of Health, added: "Co-operation and communication on the grass roots level are key elements in the national Drug Strategy. We hope that these action plans will serve as road maps for municipalities to set up self-sustainable mechanisms to implement this strategy and to raise awareness in the communities."