“Drug-trafficking is a global threat and I had to specifically underline that,” Medvedev told the conference. He complained that on the American continent “everyone sees the drug threat coming from Latin America, from the countries leading in narcotics production. But, for some reason, the problem of drug trafficking from Asia, including from Afghanistan, is not mentioned.”

Medvedev called for more efforts in combating drug trafficking on the global scale, rather than in separate regions, since narcotics are being smuggled to countries where it is profitable to sell them.

Earlier, CIA Director Leon Panetta said the agency believed that Iran has enough low-enriched uranium to create two nuclear weapons, but it would likely take about two years for the Islamic Republic to make the bombs. Commenting on the issue, Medvedev said that information needs to be checked.

“In any case, such information is worrying, considering that the international community does not believe that the Iranian nuclear program is transparent,” the president said.

“If it is proven that what American experts and special services say is true, that will certainly make the situation even tenser,” he said. “I do not exclude that we will have to study this issue.”

Russia exposing drug supplies from Latin America, he said, which means that “we should fight together and to develop global programs.”

Some politicians have been calling for the G8 to be reformed or changed, since it has no potential left. Medvedev said he believes the forum has a future.

“I do not believe that the G8 has outlived its format,” Medvedev said. According to the president, “it is comfortable for discussions of political issues, global security, and coordinating foreign policy.”

“As I see it, [the G8] has quite an obvious future,” he said. “My colleagues have the same approach.”