COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS BEGINS SESSION IN VIENNA
Press Release
SOC/NAR/725
COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS BEGINS SESSION IN VIENNA
19960416 (Reproduced as received from the UN Information Service.)VIENNA, 16 April -- "We must take action against every form of drug abuse and illicit drug traffic", the Chairman of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Helmut Butke (Germany), urged as the Commission began its thirty-ninth session in Vienna.
Mr. Butke, who was elected this morning, stressed that no country could solve the drug problem as long as the laundering of drug proceeds was possible in another country, drug cartels were allowed to purchase chemicals for illicit drug production with no risk of detection or punishment, the sale of drugs was legal, and drug dealers could find loopholes in the law against prosecution and punishment.
The Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), Giorgio Giacomelli, who will deliver his substantive statement on Thursday, said the Programme looked to the Commission for policy and substantive guidance on several critical issues, including a demand reduction strategy and the elaboration of a draft declaration on the guiding principles of demand reduction, illicit drug traffic, maritime cooperation, control of stimulants and their precursors, drug control master plans, monitoring of a system-wide action plan and the financial situation of the UNDCP.
Also this morning, the Commission elected the following Vice-Chairmen by acclamation: Sergio González Gálvez (Mexico), Abdelkader Aziria (Algeria) and Sumaryo Suryokusumo (Indonesia). Consultations are continuing among the Eastern European Group for the post of Rapporteur.
As the Commission began the general debate focusing on government action to implement the Global Programme of Action, several speakers stressed the urgent need for all States to ratify and implement the international drug Conventions.
The representative of the United States warned against the powerful, sophisticated and adaptable international drug trade, noting that it used
satellites to pinpoint law enforcement efforts and not only relied on computers, but maintained Internet addresses and employed professional computer operators to help them commit electronic information burglaries. Statements were also made by the representatives of Japan, Finland, United Kingdom and Morocco (on behalf of the African Group).
(For background on the session, see Press Release SOC/NAR/722, issued 16 April.)
Statement by Commission Chairman
The newly elected Chairman, HELMUT BUTKE, Head of Division, Federal Ministry of Health in Germany, said the Commission must again recognize to what extent the drug problem depended on overall political and societal developments at the national, regional and international levels, and, conversely, to what extent the drug problem impacted on those developments.
The success of international anti-drug strategies was limited because the endeavour for fighting drug abuse and illicit trafficking was not yet sufficient at all levels; not all governments attached the priority which was required for a balanced and effective anti-drug strategy, and the necessary resources were often lacking or used for other purposes. That was why the drug cartels often were more powerful and had more success than governments and societal forces. No one country could solve the problem as long as the laundering of drug proceeds was possible in other countries, drug cartels were allowed to purchase chemicals for illicit drug production without risk of being detected and punished, the sale of drugs was legal or, due to legislative gaps, drug dealers were able to find loopholes against prosecution and punishment or extradition. The most urgent need was for determination and consensus, he said, adding: "We must take action against every form of drug abuse and illicit drug traffic".
Statement by UNDCP Executive Director
GIORGIO GIACOMELLI, Executive Director of the UNDCP, said the current session of the Commission was a kind of preparatory body leading to the high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council on drugs which would be convened in June. In addition, the UNDCP looked to the Commission for policy and substantive guidance concerning its demand reduction strategy, the elaboration of a draft declaration on demand reduction, illicit drug traffic, maritime cooperation, control of stimulants and their precursors, drug control master plans, monitoring of the system-wide action plan and the financial situation of the UNDCP.
- 3 - Press Release SOC/NAR/725 16 April 1996
General Debate
NOBUTOSHI AKAO (Japan) said that given the increase in illicit production, trafficking and use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, States must make concerted efforts to develop and harmonize cooperation in international drug control. Of particular concern was the fact that the abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants was increasing throughout the world. Japan would be submitting a draft resolution on "drug profiling/signature analysis" aimed at establishing an international network for cooperation and technical assistance.
Japan strongly opposed legalization of the non-medical use of drugs, he said, noting that States which legalized the non-medical use of drugs had experienced an expansion in drug abuse. Such States could not implement their obligations under the Conventions and weakened the efforts of others.
Because the illicit transaction of drugs by sea was increasing worldwide, he proposed the adoption of a resolution endorsing the UNDCP recommendations to develop training and technical assistance programmes. To implement those recommendations, his Government proposed the convening of a UNDCP regional seminar on maritime drug law enforcement in the Asia and Pacific region.
PIA ROSENQVIST (Finland) said her country had a long history of participating in conventions that called for restricting the use of drugs to medical needs, and attached great importance to the follow-up of relevant United Nations resolutions. It had tried to fulfil obligations by allocating financial contributions in accordance with its abilities, and it took part in numerous international activities aimed at combating drug abuse.
Finland had enlargened its scope of interest on various levels and had been responsive to the need for cooperation at the subregional level. It had exchanged experiences with neighbouring countries and hoped to be able to promote subregional multilateral cooperation.
The emphasis on demand reduction measures was realized in national, regional and subregional contexts. Those efforts were more effective if they included measures against licit substances such as alcohol, she said. Her Government had appointed a national commission to cope with today's challenges, believing that a successful policy must be based on disseminating information about the negative effects of drug abuse. It must also concentrate on the populations at risk. Moreover, a successful policy relied on well-defined tasks and the proper division of authority.
NIGEL VARNEY (United Kingdom) said that the Global Programme of Action, together with the three Conventions, provided an authoritative source of guidance in the fight against the drug problem. However, to be effective
- 4 - Press Release SOC/NAR/725 16 April 1996
these Conventions must be practical at the national, regional and subregional levels. He agreed with the comments and recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General, and stressed that the first priority was for all States to ratify and implement the 1961, 1971 and 1988 Conventions. He drew attention to an initiative within the European Union, promoted by the United Kingdom and France, to study the needs of the Caribbean region in the fight against drug trafficking.
ABDERRAHIM BENMOUSSA (Morocco), speaking on behalf of the African Group, said that 10 to 15 years ago drugs and related problems were a fable to most parts of Africa. Today, the enormity of the drug problem and its socio- economic consequences had reached all parts of the continent. African governments' efforts to address the issue included pledges of greater cooperation among their law enforcement agencies, regional seminars, the establishment of training institutions and the development of memoranda of understanding between law enforcement agencies in individual countries.
However, those efforts had proved insufficient in the combat against drug abuse, trafficking and production within the continent, he continued. Long borders between African countries, inadequate control mechanisms at the entry points in each country and ill-equipped and ill-trained law enforcement agencies in most African States frustrated the genuine efforts of Governments. He asked that the international community look at the drug problem in Africa with compassion rather than with condemnation, and called for greater attention to be focused on Africa. Citing the low implementation rate of projects in Africa, he requested cooperation with African efforts to establish coordination mechanisms in the development, funding, use and dissemination of drug intelligence systems, and in the development of alternative products to drug crops.
ROBERT S. GELBARD (United States) said the global community confronted large and still growing threats from transnational crime, including drug trafficking, money laundering and related corruption. The transnational nature of criminal and trafficking organizations threatened collective international security inasmuch as such organizations took full advantage of new technologies, ignoring national sovereignty and borders. Drug smugglers used satellites to pinpoint law enforcement efforts. Financial fraudsters not only relied on computers, but maintained Internet addresses and employed professional computer operators to help them commit electronic information burglaries.
To be successful in defeating those threats, the international community must mobilize to adopt concerted actions on the national and international levels, he said. The United States urged all countries to support an initiative to strengthen chemical control, as well as a draft resolution to deny traffickers safe havens for money laundering. That text called upon States to prohibit numbered, anonymous accounts in financial institutions; and
- 5 - Press Release SOC/NAR/725 16 April 1996
to require those institutions to determine the true identities of their clients and maintain records of all transactions with clients to assist in possible future investigations.
He announced that the United States would increase contributions to the UNDCP to implement the Programme's medium-term strategy, and urged all member States to consider similar action.
* *** *