Iran Praised for Active Role in World Customs Organization
"Iran is a very respected and active member of the WCO. It plays full part in different committees and technical groups. We have often delegations from Iran. We have a very, very good dialogue," David Blakemore, spokesman and head of WCO's Public Relations Department, told IRNA in an interview.
Iran is one of the earliest members of the Brussels-based WCO. Tehran joined the WCO in 1959, only 7 years after the organization was established.
Tehran is a signatory to most of the WCO conventions and, in the past two to three years, has received a number of WCO technical assistance missions.
Iran has held executive positions like the vice-chair in the WCO.
This year, Iranian customs officers will receive risk-assessment training from the WCO to identify suspect consignment and people.
Blakemore said the WCO secretary general has been invited to address the G-8 Summit in Paris later this month on ways to combat drug trafficking.
The WCO chief will be speaking on the subject of drug trafficking along the "silk route," and will call for support the WCO initiatives to assist in detecting and seizing drugs across the borders of the region.
He said Iran will be invited to participate in the regional meetings after the G-8 Summit on drugs.
The WCO, established in 1952, is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of customs administration in member countries.
Today, the WCO represents 161 administrations spread all over the world which together process 98 percent of the world's trade.
The WCO's mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of customs administrations of member countries in their day-to-day of collecting revenues, collecting trade-data, ensuring compliance with trade agreements, facilitating trade, and protecting society, the environment, and the national cultural heritage.
The WCO is governed by a council, which brings together all the members of the organization once a year in Brussels.
The secretariat is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organization.