COMMISSION HEARS CALLS FOR COORDINATED INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO COMBAT DRUG ABUSE
Press Release
SOC/NAR/728
COMMISSION HEARS CALLS FOR COORDINATED INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO COMBAT DRUG ABUSE
19960418 Eighteen Speakers Take Part in General Debate; President of European Olympic Committee Addresses Commission(Reproduced as received from UN Information Service.)
VIENNA, 17 April -- International cooperation and coordination in the fight against drug abuse must be strengthened, speakers stressed this afternoon as the Commission on Narcotic Drugs ended the second day of debate on implementation of the Global Programme of Action on drug abuse and trafficking.
The representative of New Zealand said that transnational drug trafficking syndicates, whose influence transcended national boundaries, created difficulties for small countries. His country had found itself investigating targets who were overseas nationals, might speak a different language or come from different social or cultural backgrounds. Global cooperation represented the only way to effectively respond to the situation.
Among the many speakers who spoke out against the legalization of narcotic drugs, the representative of the Netherlands stressed that his country was not in favour of legalization and was "not indifferent to the negative consequences of the use of soft and hard drugs". While his Government emphasized repressive measures, it nevertheless attached importance to the care and rehabilitation of addicts, including the controlled and limited medical provision of heroin. A comparison with other European countries with similar social and economic conditions demonstrated that the Dutch policy was a success in terms of public health.
In the past, his country's efforts to help addicts had met with harsh and emotional criticism from abroad. However, when those experiments had shown their worth, similar programmes were launched elsewhere. His Government was willing to share its expertise.
Pointing to the positive results of stringent drug control measures in his country, the representative of Nigeria said that the greatest barrier to success was the propensity of some rich countries for drug consumption,
adding: "If there is no demand, there can be no production". Some States engaged in political finger-pointing to whitewash their own shortcomings. He called on all nations to cooperate in the war against syndicates which were often much richer than some of the countries represented at the Commission.
The representative of Iraq said the fight against drug abuse should not be politicized, noting that the embargo against his country had deprived Iraqi doctors from following scientific developments in drug control.
The representative of Lebanon said that although the cultivation of narcotic drugs had flourished in his country during the 17 years of war, the Government's decisive measures since then had rid the country of narcotic drug crops. Contrary to the report of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), there were no laboratories in Lebanon for the transformation of heroin base. The bane of drugs was worse than any war Lebanon had experienced.
Other speakers in the debate this afternoon were the representatives of Venezuela, Poland, South Africa, Bahamas, Belgium, Germany, Tunisia, Republic of Korea, China, Sudan, Pakistan, and the Czech Republic. The representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) also spoke.
Prior to the afternoon plenary meeting, the Commission heard a statement by the President of the European Olympic Committee, Mario Pescante, on behalf of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and a response by a representative of the United States, host of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Statement by President of European Olympic Committee
MARIO PESCANTE, President of the European Olympic Committee, emphasized the importance of sports in encouraging a healthy lifestyle as a strong preventive measure against drugs. The IOC had cooperated with the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) to fight drug abuse through the education of youth in sport. Its broad network complemented the activities carried out by governments and non-governmental organizations, with athletes serving as ambassadors in their own countries and sports clinics reinforcing the message.
He informed the Commission that the IOC's medical division had approached the issue of doping, which affects high-level sports very seriously. It had developed strict monitoring and testing measures to address the problem.
Responding to the statement, the representative of the United States informed the Commission that the 100th anniversary of the Olympic Games would be held later this year in Atlanta, Georgia. The United States applauded the
- 3 - Press Release SOC/NAR/728 18 April 1996
efforts of the IOC, she said, and stressed that anti-drug campaigns and programmes would play an important role during the Games.
General Debate
DEMETRIO BOERSNER (Venezuela) said the pernicious relationship between the consumption and production of illicit drugs had grown. Describing the use of and trafficking in narcotic drugs in Venezuela, he said the national commission against the illicit use of drugs was preparing a final survey on such activities. With regard to the suppression of drug trafficking, the State security authorities had carried out many operations with significant results. Criminal organizations had been dismantled and actions against laundering drugs proceeds had received energetic attention. Preventive action together with intelligence operations had led to a significant reduction in that type of crime in the country. Monitoring had been intensified to prevent the diversification of drugs.
In 1994 and 1995, the authorities had detected and eradicated tracts of opium, marijuana and coca. Venezuela had defined its strategies in a national plan which addressed political, educational, social, economic, health, legal, national and international aspects. Venezuela was basically a transit country to different parts of the world, particularly North America and Europe. The Government was cooperating with other countries to combat the scourge both internally and beyond. It would persevere in its approach to bilateral cooperation but also supported the principle of multilateral cooperation to end the illicit drug trade. He supported the convening of an international conference on the subject. The format of the meeting was not important, but it should be held at a high level, be conducted within the framework of the United Nations and be attended by all countries.
MERVYN KEMP (New Zealand) said his country found itself investigating targets who were overseas nationals, might speak a different language or come from different social or cultural backgrounds, and who might even be based overseas. From a law enforcement perspective, the situation created many difficulties for a small country such as his. Acting in isolation, it would often fail to recognize the true significance of an investigation or drug seizure. Global cooperation represented the only way it could effectively respond to that situation.
Over the next few years, the international community would need to move in several specific directions which were encompassed in the framework set out in the Global Programme of Action. He cautioned, however, that while everyone recognized the need for enhanced cooperation and coordination, many administrations were not committed to putting those sentiments into practice. It was ironic that at a time when the need for international liaison and coordination had never been greater, barriers were being erected to frustrate that need. Those barriers took the form of a reluctance or unwillingness to
- 4 - Press Release SOC/NAR/728 18 April 1996
share information. In other cases, the presence of certain legislation was perceived as placing restrictions on cooperating with overseas countries. It was vital for all law enforcement agencies to become more comfortable with working in the international environment because mutual cooperation brought benefits to all.
WITOLD WIENIAWSKI (Poland) said the difficult aspect of narcotic drug control rested in the contradictory requirement of a simultaneous fight against abuse of numerous substances and the need to ensure adequate supplies of many of those substances for legitimate medical needs. The mechanisms introduced by the existing Conventions to regulate this situation were already decades old and required various improvements.
He supported the harmonization of criteria for scheduling substances under the 1961 and 1971 Conventions and the review of definitions of cannabis and coca leaf.
Appeals to the international financial institutions, including development banks, to promote the inclusion of the drug dimension when deciding the extent of development programmes should be considered, he said. Also, confiscated assets of drug traffickers should be used to support the fight against drug abuse.
BRUCE DICK of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said UNICEF's mission statement identified the Convention on the Rights of the Child as providing a focus and framework for the agency's activities. The rights of children in their second decade of life had frequently not been realized, including the right to information and life skills, to education and health services, and to a safe and supportive environment free from exploitation and abuse. That situation needed to be rectified.
The UNICEF was increasingly involved with the health of young people because what happened during that period of growth and development had a profound impact on their health and productivity as adults. It was important to move from words to action in relation to the commitments entered into at the World Summit for Children, the World Summit on Social Development, the Population and Development Conference and the Fourth World Conference on Women.
He said the international community needed to deal with health problems that had common roots and were linked together in terms of cause and effect. Those included unwanted and unsafe sex; drugs, including alcohol and tobacco; accidents and violence; poor nutrition and certain common diseases. The UNICEF intended to write to all of its country and regional offices to encourage them to identify ways to work more closely with key partners, particularly the UNDCP.
- 5 - Press Release SOC/NAR/728 18 April 1996
JOHN A. DAVIES (South Africa), commenting on the issues raised in the Executive Director's report in response to resolution 48/12 (in which the General Assembly asked the Commission to examine areas of progress and weakness in the implementation of existing drug control measures and recommend appropriate adjustments), agreed that the current definitions in the 1961 and 1971 Conventions should be reviewed. On another topic, he said the UNDCP should convene a group of experts to establish the objectives and expected results of alternative development programmes.
His Government also strongly opposed the legalization of the non-medical use of drugs and supported the recommendations that invited the UNDCP to provide arguments against such legalization. He agreed that the UNDCP should undertake a study on the implications of decriminalization and harm reduction campaigns in countries in which those policies had been adopted.
ADAMU A. MOHAMMED (Nigeria) said that in his country all law enforcement agencies were required to arrest and bring to justice those involved in illicit drugs, but the various authorities had not always been coordinated enough to make a significant impact. Nigeria had taken a harder look at its own efforts and had appointed to the head of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency a "no-nonsense" soldier who had purged the agency of all corrupt officials and tightened the screws on all points that threatened expansion of the drug trade. Under his leadership, drug trafficking had been reduced by more than 75 per cent. The Government also undertook other measures to combat illicit drugs, including the establishment of the national Food and Drug Administration which investigated all drugs manufactured in the country.
The greatest barrier to the success of efforts to combat illicit drugs was the propensity of the nationals of some rich countries for drug consumption. "If there is no demand, there can be no production, and the drug trafficker is automatically out of business", he said. Some countries engaged in political finger-pointing to whitewash their own shortcomings. All countries must cooperate in the war against syndicates, which were often much richer than some of the countries represented at the Commission.
Any meaningful progress must be achieved globally, he said. No nation could abrogate to itself the right of sole arbiter as to which country was doing well or otherwise in terms of success in the drug war. Much could be achieved through greater cooperation, exchange of information and assistance among nations within the international community.
CORNELIUS SMITH (Bahamas) stated that a multifaceted joint operations programme with the United States that began in 1982 had reduced the traffic in cocaine and marijuana to minimum levels. Indicators for 1995 revealed that cocaine abuse was 65 per cent less than the peak period of 1984-1988, and marijuana abuse between 1989 and 1995 was about half of that recorded between 1980 and 1988.
- 6 - Press Release SOC/NAR/728 18 April 1996
Notwithstanding the comprehensive drug abuse programmes, a reduction in the abuse of marijuana and cocaine was not achieved until supply was drastically cut, he said. An overwhelming percentage of the cannabis, cocaine and heroin that was illicitly trafficked and abused worldwide was produced in a few countries that were themselves parties to some or all of the international drugs Conventions. Together, the international community should find a way to bring illicit cultivation under control.
MARIELLE VER ELST (Belgium) said her Government had ratified both the 1971 and 1988 Conventions. It had also entered into international agreements with its partners in the European Union and with countries in Latin America. In addition, it was disposed favourably towards for a project in Viet Nam to establish a national programme against drug abuse in that country.
Lessons learned within the last two decades had convinced Belgian authorities of the need to deploy a programme to help drug addicts, she said. That programme was financed with the proceeds confiscated from the arrest of drug traffickers. The Government had also strengthened its infrastructures to help drug addicts and was combating the introduction of new drugs. It had adopted a policy to shift the focus of control to preventive and curative action. Law enforcement was active in the broader approach to the fight against drug abuse.
ALFRED PROTZ (Germany) objected to the UNDCP conducting studies or research into the legalization of the non-medical use of drugs because such use was prohibited by the Conventions. However, the dispensing of heroin, under medical supervision, to drug addicts should be seen as a different matter along with other harm reduction measures. He endorsed the recommendation that all States should elaborate national drug control plans and, if required, receive support from the UNDCP.
He expressed strong reservations regarding the proposal to convene another international conference on drugs. While it might be useful in the future, such a gathering would be premature before the year 2000. Germany's concern was that the momentum in activities to implement existing programmes could be impeded or stalled if governments and international organizations were obliged to involve themselves in resource-intensive and costly preparations for such a conference.
MOHSEN TORKHANI (Tunisia) said his country was a potential transit point for the drug trade. In its efforts to address the problem, Tunisia had signed the three drug Conventions; established a national drug office which coordinated drug-related activities and worked closely in the areas of education, youth, children, information and social affairs; created a commission on drug addiction; developed laws which were in full harmony with the international Conventions; and developed bilateral and multilateral agreements that addressed the drug problem.
- 7 - Press Release SOC/NAR/728 18 April 1996
Tunisia supported the request made by other countries to work together and with non-governmental organizations to fight the drug scourge, and it complimented UNDCP efforts that had strengthened international cooperation.
J.G.S.T.M. VAN HELLENBERG HUBAR (Netherlands) stressed that his country was not in favour of the legalization of narcotic drugs. "We are also not indifferent to the negative consequences of the use of soft and hard drugs", he said. The Government's policy emphasized repressive measures in the form of criminal investigation and prosecution, with organized crime as a specialized target. Equally significant was the importance attached to the care and rehabilitation of addicts. Such measures might include the controlled and limited medical provision of heroin. The police and judicial authorities worked with the social services and health officials.
Looking at the results of the national policy, considerable progress had been made in terms of public health as well as law enforcement and criminal justice. Since 1993, one third of the country's known organized drug syndicates had been broken up. He described a series of activities undertaken against drug trafficking, as well as cooperative efforts with other countries. A comparison of the situation in the Netherlands with that in other European countries with similar social and economic conditions provided incontrovertible evidence that the Dutch policy was a success in terms of public health. Moreover, a high proportion of drug users there continued to function in society to a reasonable degree.
In the past, his country's efforts to help addicts had met with harsh and emotional criticism from abroad. However, when those experiments had shown their worth, similar programmes were launched elsewhere. The Netherlands would share its expertise gained in tackling the drug problem with any interested party.
SEUNG-KON LEE (Republic of Korea) said that the Asian Group supported the Mexican proposal to convene an international conference on narcotic drugs.
He supported the recommendation that a group of experts review the adequacy of the existing definitions in the 1961 and 1971 Conventions, given the substantial scientific and technical developments and socio-economic changes since then. A review of the 1988 Convention would also be necessary, given the changes regarding substances and precursors which could be used in illegal drug manufacture.
He opposed the legalization of the non-medical use of drugs and the use of the term "harm reduction" because of the risk to narcotic drugs use.
ZHUO FENG (China) called for closer cooperation and coordination among the international community and for more emphasis on multi-level cooperation at all levels.
- 8 - Press Release SOC/NAR/728 18 April 1996
In implementing the Global Programme of Action, the Chinese Government had assisted neighbouring countries to substitute crops, he said. Yunnan province had provided more than 100 tons of rice and fruit seeds which had resulted in the substitution of 27,000 hectares of former opium fields with economic crops. Through the close cooperation of drug law enforcement agencies of several countries, illicit manufacture and trafficking activities had been stopped.
ABDULKARIM ASWAD (Iraq) said that cooperation against drug abuse should not be politicized. The embargo against Iraq had prevented its doctors from following scientific developments. He called on international organizations to provide Iraq with the necessary drug control techniques for its rehabilitation. Iraq also needed documents on drug abuse and drug control programmes. He hoped the international community would understand the situation and cooperate with Iraq. Special consideration should be given to his country's geographic location and the vulnerability that it imposed.
SALIM SALIM (Lebanon) said the cultivation of narcotic drugs had flourished over a large area in his country during the 17 years of war. After the war ended, the Government had taken decisive and severe measures. It had embarked in 1993 on the destruction of drugs in the Bekaa Valley and had finally rid the country of narcotic drug crops. As a preventive measure, the Government continued to monitor the cultivation of drug crops.
Law enforcement agencies had exerted enormous efforts and had detained a number of drug traffickers, he said. They had captured large quantities of drugs and cooperated at the international level against trafficking. In addition, there was a programme to heighten public awareness at all levels. His Government was ready to ratify the 1988 Convention.
Contrary to the statements in the INCB report, there were no laboratories in Lebanon for the transformation of heroin base. There were some individuals who knew how to convert such substances using household utensils, but the authorities had arrested a few of them. He also challenged the report's statement that the drugs converted in laboratories were exported. He asked which States had seized such drugs because he wanted to receive any information about them. The bane of drugs was worse than any war Lebanon had experienced, he declared. To ensure the success of the plan to replace drug crops, he called on donor countries to comply with their assistance obligations. If the farmers were not helped to achieve economic independence, they would return to cultivating their former crops. MAHGOUB HASSAN SAAD (Sudan) said large quantities of drugs passing over Sudanese borders had been seized, and no doubt even more had successfully passed through unknown to the police. Sudanese law enforcement had made great efforts to eradicate the fields of Indian hemp but those efforts were slipping due to the lack of resources and because the producers were always finding new ways to evade the authorities.
- 9 - Press Release SOC/NAR/728 18 April 1996
A special agency oversaw operations to prevent the cultivation of drugs, for the treatment of addicts and for heightening public awareness. Those strategies were based on the availability of resources. His Government had ratified the three Conventions and had signed various bilateral agreements. It was seeking further cooperation with neighbouring countries. The Sudan had enacted laws to fulfil its commitments to the UNDCP and had established a national committee and national fund to fight drugs.
International solidarity was essential, particularly assistance to developing countries. He supported the statement made on behalf of the African Group and concerning the African continent's need for assistance.
MUHAMMAD AFZAL KAHUT (Pakistan) said the liberalization of the world economy, increased urbanization, the break-up of the Soviet Union and the proximity of the Afghanistan conflict had contributed to new patterns of trafficking in Pakistan. The erosion of a central authority in Afghanistan had resulted in widespread poppy cultivation and the war had led to a porous border between the two countries resulting in the spread of a "narco-gun" culture.
He reported on the increase in heroin addiction in his country and hoped that demand reduction activities would ease the problem. Specific measures taken by Pakistan included the growth of the anti-narcotic force, crop substitution projects, the refinement of legislation and a five-year plan on demand reduction and drug abuse control.
JAN KOHOUT (Czech Republic) suggested that international cooperation could extend to the exchange of information regarding the implementation of the demand reduction programmes. Relations between the UNDCP and non- governmental organizations required special attention, as did the strengthening of contacts with the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
He opposed the proposal to convene an international drug conference. Another conference would divert the financial resources devoted to anti-drug programmes, and the unavoidable organization-related tasks would hinder the activities of United Nations agencies targeting drug control. Funds and activities should focus on the development and implementation existing programmes and international agreements. Perhaps a high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council could be a suitable forum for such a discussion.
* *** *