Azerbaijan, Baku, Apr. 24 / corr Trend T.Jafarov /
Trend Persian desk's exclusive interview with Iranian Police force deputy chief Ahmad Reza Radan
Question: You were one of executors of the Public Security in Iran project. What were the objectives of this project and what results have been achieved?
Answer: After the conduct of scientific researches we outlined several topics. We knew about these themes before. We clarified that enemy's encroachment upon culture is a very serious problem. Such an encroachment can also be used with regard to other countries. We should not wait until this encroachment is done by arms or drug. Encroachment upon culture is the most serious, as it leads to loss of morality among youth, making them drug-addicted and doing things opposing national culture. Every country has its unique culture and values. Given such problems in the country, we learned the opinions of population and police in this field. It is interesting, inquiry among community revealed aspirations for struggling with immorality irrelevant to the Iranian Islamic culture. People asked us to take actions against swindlers.
Similar issues were included in the Public Security Project. During the researches we defined major problems of the community and sanctioned the project. We pursued several goals and achieved them. One of the key objectives of the project was to fight with encroachment upon culture by the help of citizens and organizations, involved in the culture sphere. We find that work which has been done so far is still insufficient and it should be continued. Encroachment upon culture is realized secretly. Unless we make more accents on this issue, it might spread all over the country.
The second objective of the project was to ensure security of population. By this project we wanted to prevent spread of immorality and fraud, and will proceed consistent implementation of the project with the support of officials of the country.
Q: For a while you were chief of police in the Sistan and Belujistan province, bordering with Pakistan. What action did the Iranian police take in fighting with Jondullah (over the past time this group took captive several policemen and then killed)?
A: Countries regarding themselves as powerful, put forward different understanding of terrorism and then act in line with such understanding. We hold enough proves that terror groups are established with the support of forces existing in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They want to establish panic in our country. Jondullah is one of such groups. Iran carried out very efficient measures in fighting with such groups. After these measures the group can act only in the border region. The last action was followed by armed resistance and many members of the group were killed. Iran took unforeseen measures to strengthen the border. Canals were digged, land fortification was done and concrete walls were built. Border protection is done by the help of optic means.
Now Iranian frontier guards fully control the border in the Sistan and Belujistan province.
By strengthening police we could press back the group to the border and in the near future will restrict its activities completely even in the border. People introducing terrorism in another form actually support terrorism. The world nations will never forget who established such terror groups, such as Taliban and Jondullah.
Q: What could you speak about Iran's achievements in struggle with drug trafficking and what are statistical data?
A: The international organizations involved in drug enforcement rate Iran as one of leaders in this sphere. Last year 1,000 tons of drug was confiscated in Iran. There is a progress in drug enforcement as compared to previous year. Indeed, progress is observed every year. Unless Iran regarded drug enforcement so seriously, then other nations could have faced crisis. However, all countries located on the narco-transit route should be grateful to Iran for efforts in drug combating to protect health of their youth.
Q: What work has the joint commission on security of Iran-Azerbaijan border? Could you speak about future action plan in this direction?
A: On Apr. 23 a delegation led by Iranian border police chief Major General Gasim Rezai will visit Baku to discuss protection of border between the countries. This visit will proceed meetings between frontier guards of Iran and Azerbaijan. Relation and cooperation between the frontier guards of the two countries are developing successfully. We have achieved definite agreements. We also continue cooperation in fighting with people illegally crossing state border and their returning back. Iran took his promise on the extradition of prisoners. During the talks in Baku the frontier guards of the two countries will discuss previous agreements and prevention of narco-smuggling. The frontier guards will also mull ensuring safe visits to both countries.
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