Dear Mr. Chairman, Dear Colleagues,
I would like to convey greetings and best wishes from the citizens of the Russian town of Azov. Azov has been twinned with Aglantzia, the host of this conference, for over 13 years. We are proud of our friendship with Cypriots and the Mayor Andreas Petrou.
Our town has a thousand-year-old history, inseparably connected with the name of Tsar Peter the Great and with the history of the Don Cossacks. The walls of the Azov Fortress witnessed battles which brought glory to the Russian Army and Navy.
Unfortunately, the problem of drugs didn't pass by our town. In spite of all our efforts the drug dealers penetrate Azov and increase the number of drug addicts.
But we are not even thinking of surrendering. Together with federal agencies, bodies of health protection and education, law enforcement agencies, public organisations we do our best to curb the illegal drug trade. We pay special attention to prevention of drug use among young people. We consider the latter the most important task. A child, a teenager or a young man who has an interesting activity, is passionately dedicated to a right cause, has a dream would hardly ever join the ranks of drug addicts.
Our town is proud of its sports schools with 35 kinds of sports, the School of Art, Creative Young Peoples' Centre, ballroom and folklore dancing schools, Youth Cultural Center and other institutions working on a daily basis.
As a positive example I could offer the following. Azov has since long ago been a place where the Don Cossacks lived. The Cossacks, who protected the Russian borders in the past, today protect the young people from drugs. We organised the municipal Cossack detachment in Azov, where love for Motherland, healthy way of life, respect for the traditions and discipline are cultivated. Joining the Cossacks the young man not only avoids the risk of becoming a drug addict himself but as a municipal militiaman takes part in the law enforcement actions against drug dealers.
Touching upon the subject of this conference - the role of the family in fighting against drugs - I would like to note that in our opinion this role is extremely important. Being a father of three sons I have always been doing my best to let my children understand how one wrong decision to try drugs might destroy their life. My wife and I managed to involve our sons in the studies, sports, public activity and this problem has never entered our home.
I would like to say a few words about the public organisation "Mothers Against Drugs" from Azov. Members of the organisation - mothers of drug addicts - try to use the examples of their mistakes in order to explain to other families how to avoid such mistakes. Having learnt of the conference and my participation in it, the Mothers Against Drugs asked me convey their greetings and hand the address which contains essential proposals to the ECAD directorate.
Finishing my message I would like to say that the people of Azov received with enthusiasm the idea of uniting European cities in fighting against drugs. In this connection I hereby express the interest of Azov in joining the ECAD.
Thank you for your attention.

 
[< Back]