VIENNA, November 6. /Dunyo IA/.   Diplomats of the Embassy of Uzbekistan held a meeting with Jo Dedeyne-Amann, Chief of the Secretariat to the Governing Bodies of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Special attention was paid to the preparation and holding of the 58th session of the UN Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East, scheduled to take place in Tashkent on December 15–18^th, 2026.

Subcommission is a regional subsidiary body of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs. Its establishment was authorized by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1973. The Subcommission comprises 23 states, including Uzbekistan. Observer states and relevant international organizations also participate in its work. Primary task of the Subcommission consists in promoting regional cooperation in the fight against illicit drug trafficking, exchanging information and experience, as well as developing coordinated approaches to countering drug-related crime.

Holding the next session in Tashkent will serve as an important opportunity for strengthening cooperation among the states of the region, discussing current challenges and determining practical measures to counter transnational threats. The event is expected to bring together representatives of the Subcommission’s member states, observer countries and international organizations, providing them with a platform for constructive dialogue and the exchange of advanced practices.

For Uzbekistan, hosting this event is of particular significance and reflects the country’s consistent commitment to strengthening regional and international security. Serving as the host country, the republic will be able to present its own experience and initiatives in the field of countering illicit drug trafficking, as well as contribute to the development of practical cooperation between the states of the region.

Organization of the session will also mark another step toward intensifying Uzbekistan’s cooperation with the UNODC, aimed at expanding expert dialogue, implementing joint initiatives and strengthening the capacity of relevant state agencies.

This cooperation acquires additional relevance in the context of preparations for hosting the 16^th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Uzbekistan in 2031. The corresponding initiative of Uzbekistan received the support of the member states at the 15th Congress, which took place in Abu Dhabi from September 26^th to October 1^st, 2026. During its concluding plenary session, it was confirmed that the next meeting of the global community within the framework of the Congress will be held in Uzbekistan.

Thus, holding the 58^th session of the Subcommission in Tashkent will be a concrete practical step toward developing Uzbekistan’s partnership with the UN and a reaffirmation of the country’s active role in advancing international efforts to counter illicit drug trafficking and transnational crime.