PHNOM PENH, June 25 : A senior lawmaker in Cambodia has called on Asean member states to beef up anti-drug efforts and systematically resolve the hindrances in the way of a drug-free bloc.

National Assembly first vice-president Cheam Yeap made the plea during the 5th annual meeting of the AIPA (Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly) Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs, hosted by Cambodia under the theme of “Addressing Challenges Together for a Drug-Free Asean”.

He stressed that no single country can win a “drug war” alone, and that nations must band together and make regular concerted efforts to combat drug trafficking and the illegal industry.

Yeap suggested ASEAN countries to form an anti-drug working group and establish a harmonised anti-drug code of conduct or anti-drug protocol to fully overcome the challenges that prevent the bloc from being drug-free.

The lawmaker voiced hope that each attendee would bring the important experiences shared at the meeting back to their country and create robust and effective mechanisms to deal with the challenges that illegal drugs pose for the bloc. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN

 - ANN