EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WARNS OF DISTURBING TRENDS IN PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES, AS DRUG COMMISSION DEBATES POLICY DIRECTIVES
Press Release
SOC/NAR/729
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WARNS OF DISTURBING TRENDS IN PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES, AS DRUG COMMISSION DEBATES POLICY DIRECTIVES
19960419 Also Stresses Need for 'Widened and Reinforced' Financial Base for UN Drug Control Programme; 16 Other Speakers Heard(Reproduced as received from the UN Information Service.)
VIENNA, 18 April -- The drug phenomenon showed a unique capacity to exploit new technologies, diversify channels and methods, and take advantage of weaknesses created by changing economic and political circumstances, the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), Giorgio Giacomelli, told the Commission on Narcotic Drugs this morning.
There had been particularly disturbing trends in the area of psychotropic substances, he said, and the international community faced another global threat because many of the synthetic stimulants were cheaper than cocaine, had a longer effect, and their supply was difficult to control. The UNDCP would seek to involve policy makers further in considering countermeasures against the illicit manufacture and trafficking of stimulants.
Addressing the Commission as it examined, in general debate, policy directives addressed to the UNDCP, the Executive Director described the Programme's current and future undertakings, among them, the preparation of an international training guide on maritime law enforcement; the forthcoming commentary on the 1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, which would serve as a guide for governments in adopting laws and regulations for its implementation; the Programme's on-line access to, and software package on, drug control information; its efforts at strengthening the technical capacity of national institutions responsible for implementing alternative development plans; the preparation of an inventory of national law enforcement strategies and countermeasures; and the promotion of a viable programme on money laundering.
All of the Programme's activities flowed and converged towards the realization of a single, global vision of international drug control, the Executive Director said. And while the UNDCP had been maturing and had the potential for becoming an even more effective and focused organization, its
financial circumstances were such that merely continuing existing activities was in jeopardy. The Programme's financial base must be widened and reinforced at the earliest, he stressed, otherwise it would be difficult to sustain the current level of activities and even less possible to satisfy the expectations of member States.
Taking part in this morning's debate were the following representatives: Czech Republic, Ghana, Myanmar, Uruguay, Paraguay, Portugal, Jamaica, Chile, United Kingdom, France, Peru, Romania, Ecuador, Libya and Ethiopia.
One speaker, the representative of Sweden, said consideration should be given towards creating a new UNDCP governing mechanism made up of donor and recipient countries. Such a creating body would meet three to four times a year for frank, open and informal discussions.
Statement by UNDCP Executive Director
GIORGIO GIACOMELLI, Executive Director of the UNDCP, said the drug phenomenon showed a unique capacity to exploit new technologies, diversify its channels and methods and take advantage of weaknesses created by changing economic and political circumstances. Over the past year, there had been particularly disturbing trends in the area of psychotropic substances. The international community faced another global threat because many of the synthetic stimulants were cheaper than cocaine and had a longer effect, and because their supply was difficult to control.
He said that following a study by the Programme, in consultation with the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), on the manufacture, trafficking and abuse of stimulants and their precursors, an expert group had expressed concern that "this form of abuse is likely to develop into an ever greater problem which, by the next century, may compete with, if not surpass, those caused by cocaine and heroin". The UNDCP would seek to involve policy makers further in the consideration of specific countermeasures against the illicit manufacture and trafficking of stimulants.
The Programme strove to monitor new developments and trigger timely and coordinated responses to them, he continued. At the same time, it was promoting the use of drug control instruments which were already available to governments and the international community. A proposal before the Commission would extend the usefulness of national drug control plans beyond national borders and make them a tool to monitor implementation of the Global Programme of Action. An expert group on maritime law enforcement had assisted in charting a course of action which included the preparation of an international training guide and the provision of technical assistance instruments.
The commentary on the 1988 Convention, to be completed by the end of the summer, would contribute to a uniform interpretation of that instrument. It
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would also serve as a guide for governments in adopting laws and regulations for its implementation. In the past five years, he said, the Programme had provided legal assistance to some 120 countries. Almost 80 States had adopted or were in the process of adopting new drug control legislation in line with the international Conventions. Governments must, however, exert the political will to ensure effective implementation of the legislation they had adopted.
The UNDCP offered on-line access to drug control information, including statistical databases and reports and documents needed by national drug control authorities. As of July 1996, the Programme would also make available a software package containing the necessary components for electronic transmission of treaty-mandated information between governments and the UNDCP. Among other activities, he said the Programme was encouraging the establishment of cooperative links among member States within their respective regions. The UNDCP also continued to devote special attention to demand reduction. The rapid assessment methodology was increasingly applied in responding to technical assistance requests.
The UNDCP had the most active record in non-governmental relations throughout the United Nations system, he stated. In an effort to strengthen its partnership with civil society, the Programme had launched a campaign to use sports for reaching out to young people. On the supply side, alternative development continued to play an important role in the elimination of illicit crops. Priority was now attached to strengthening the technical capacity of national institutions responsible for implementing alternative development plans. The Programme was, thus, placing greater emphasis on its role as advocate, technical partner and coordinator, and on the achievement of drug control objectives.
The Programme was preparing an inventory of national law enforcement strategies and countermeasures as a reference for member States in determining their own priorities and operational arrangements, he continued. Also, it was successfully integrating law enforcement components in subregional cooperation programmes. As for money laundering, the UNDCP could contribute more than it presently did to international efforts in that area. It attached priority to the implementation of a viable, realistic programme on money laundering. A fundamental task of the Programme was to coordinate and lead drug control efforts throughout the United Nations system. During 1995, a number of agencies with whom the UNDCP had had limited cooperation had responded to the call to incorporate drug control issues into their own programmes of work. New partnerships had been launched with the specialized and other international agencies. At the forthcoming Economic and Social Council high-level segment on drugs, member States would be able to reiterate their message to the entire United Nations system that "drug control is a fundamental component of sustainable human development, necessitating a concerted and coordinated approach".
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All of the UNDCP's activities flowed and converged towards the realization of a single, global vision of international drug control. Although the Programme had been maturing over the past years, there was potential for an even more effective focused organization. However, the financial circumstances were such that even the mere continuation of existing activities was in jeopardy. He emphasized that the financial base of the Programme must be widened and reinforced at the earliest, otherwise it would be difficult to sustain the current level of activities and even less possible to satisfy the expectations of member States.
General Debate
JAN KOHUT (Czech Republic) said his Government regarded the consistent implementation of international agreements related to drug control as a task of utmost importance. It might be expedient to consider potential amendments to bring them up to date, however. The issue must be explored with care, taking into account the danger of marginalization and simplified viewing of some problematic questions which could lead to counter-productive effects of the suggested new arrangements.
The Czech Republic did not support the proposal for a world conference on drugs in 1998. Conference preparations and organizational matters would divert the financial resources devoted to anti-drug programmes. Moreover, the unavoidable organization-related tasks would hinder the activities of United Nations agencies targeting drug control. It was more expedient to focus such activities and funds on the development and consistent implementation of other programmes and international agreements which already existed. The global problem of drug control undoubtedly called for international attention and discussion, with high-level participation. He, therefore, welcomed the decision to devote this year's high-level Economic and Social Council segment to international cooperation against the illicit production, sale, demand, traffic and distribution of narcotics and psychotropic substances and related activities.
K.B. QUANTSON (Ghana) said that although much success had been achieved in fighting the drug war in his country, there was hardly cause for jubilation because the problem was far from resolved. He challenged the language contained in the INCB Report that his Government should pay more attention to the increased transit traffic in and abuse of illicit drugs. Rather, the Board should have encouraged the Government to sustain the present level of commitment it was demonstrating in that war. Various successful measures had been put into place, and education and prevention programmes had been strengthened. In the rural areas, where the cultivation of marijuana was mainly carried out, district assemblies, the centre of local authority, were now being involved to take up the drug war in the nation's towns and villages.
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Having identified the judiciary process as a weak link in the country's drug control efforts, Ghana had taken steps to rectify that situation and the results were now satisfactory. He expressed regret that since the 1994 Ministerial Coordinators Conference of the 16 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) nothing had happened. Whatever problems existed should be expeditiously addressed so that the objectives of the conference in the war against drugs would be realized.
During the year, various UNDCP and INCB officials had visited Ghana. He advised that the calibre of some of the experts be more carefully considered so that whatever expertise they possessed could be of benefit to the countries they visited. Also, in deciding upon the experts, relevance to local problems should be taken into account.
SOE WIN (Myanmar) said his Government had undertaken narcotic drugs control as a national duty and was implementing a multifaceted national strategy, in line with the Global Programme of Action, in the demand reduction and supply sectors. Although Myanmar was commonly referred to as a major opium-producing country, little had been done to investigate the root causes of opium production. The regions where poppy was cultivated on a commercial scale were along remote borders populated by insurgent groups and where infrastructure was almost non-existent. In the areas where armed opposition had ceased, poppy cultivation was being substituted with seasonal or perennial cash crops. Since 1989, some 15 armed groups had decided to work in regional development projects. However, such projects could not beat fruit in just four or five years.
Drawing attention to the conscientious participation of the country's ethnic people, he said they had drawn up annual plans to establish opium-free zones. "The more external assistance is received, the more quickly we can get rid of the evil crop", he declared.
The diversion of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances to illicit sources was generally the result of deficiencies in the application of control measures in international trade. Effective control in the exporting country would greatly reduce the size of the street market for such drugs in Myanmar. Aware of the danger of the influx of a variety of sophisticated or even super- fluous non-essential drugs, Myanmar was developing a system to encourage the manufacture and import only of drugs with a high degree of cost-effectiveness.
ALBERTO SCAVARELLI (Uruguay) thanked the Executive Director and the UNDCP for the great work accomplished with limited funds. For its part, Uruguay had achieved many of its objectives, including twice as many seizures in 1995 as in all previous years. Its national programme was aimed at creating public awareness of the drug problem.
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The possibility of expanding the membership of the Commission to all United Nations Members should be explored, he said. The drug problem was worldwide and the responsibilities should be shared among all countries, particularly when international policies and measures for implementation were decided.
Uruguay supported the convening of a high-level ministerial meeting to examine the progress made in implementing the 1988 Convention. Should that proposal be accepted, a working group should be established to make preparations and develop an agenda.
CARLOS PEYRAT (Paraguay) explained that his country's long borders were difficult to control against drug traffickers. The anti-drug effort must be based on shared responsibility with a balanced and integrated approach. Paraguay's efforts included the drafting of a new law to address money laundering and other aspects of drug trafficking. Despite the country's limited resources, an education campaign had been directed at teachers and officials in military institutions.
Drug control measures included the registering of all importers, laboratories and private air strips. In addition, law enforcement officials had destroyed crops, seized drugs and equipment, including light aircraft and weapons, and made numerous arrests. Paraguay had also ratified the 1988 Convention, and it supported the Mexican proposal for a special session of the General Assembly to address global efforts in drug control.
ALVARO DE MENDONCA E MOURA (Portugal) said the Commission must not be afraid of discussion. He favoured the convening of an international conference to assess the implementation of the international drug control instruments, a meeting which could also consider complementary subjects, particularly in the field of demand reduction.
He drew attention to the increase in maritime traffic and the growing importance of the assistance the UNDCP could provide in that field. He supported the views set forth by the European Union, and said its action plan for drug control was a clear signal of the Union's determination. The European monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction was prepared to play an important role in strengthening policies for drug control and in developing the system to increase the amount of available information on the drug phenomenon and its consequences.
Concerning the statement by the African Group, he said the Commission could not turn a blind eye to the problems of drug control in Africa. His country was available to support the African countries in developing legal instruments and training staff to enable them to meet their obligations arising under the Conventions. For its part, Portugal had the necessary legal and practical instruments to meet its obligations under the Conventions. It
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had introduced continual improvements, including an expansion last year of a law to encompass the control of money-laundering schemes. Changes in the law were also being made to increase sentences for traffickers and to provide greater flexibility for the police. Drug prevention and treatment were accorded high priority in Portugal. At the international level, only close cooperation based on the concept of common responsibility could bring about significant improvements in the drug situation.
BERTRAM MILLWOOD (Jamaica) asked whether, despite significant achievements on the drug enforcement side, one could say that supplies to international markets had been drastically reduced. The cartels, rich with narco-dollars, were able to corrupt State functionaries, law enforcement personnel, as well as officials of central banks and private financial institutions. Through those activities, they were able to produce and market illegal drugs without fear of encounters with law enforcement or national trade barriers while laundering the proceeds. If States were to effectively fight the drug scourge, not only would they need to legislate, but also ensure that such laws were enforced so that traffickers and their organizations were dealt severe blows. Jamaica was doing just that, also determined not to become a money-laundering centre. Demand reduction programmes included public education, seizure of crops and related equipment, arrests of criminals and the establishment in Jamaica of the Caribbean Regional Drug Training Centre.
In a number of developing countries, drug lords were able to produce large quantities of arms and ammunition which they used to control geographic areas, often bringing death to innocent people. In some societies, those organized groups challenged State power and had overthrown governments. He called on the Commission to ask developed countries involved in the manufacture of arms and ammunition to seek to improve their customs and ports security to reduce the number of weapons that were exported illegally to small developing countries. The latter countries must, in turn, exercise stronger vigilance to ensure that fewer weapons were available to drug lords.
BELISARIO VELASCO BARAONA (Chile) said his country's efforts to address the drug problem included the establishment of the National Council for Drug Control which coordinated policy and activities. Preventive programmes were financed from fines and the confiscated proceeds of drug-related activities. The penal code granted powers to police and the courts, allowing them to thoroughly investigate drug crimes which had resulted in an increase in seizures. A special unit to investigate money laundering was now fully operational.
He stressed that efforts undertaken by his country would be sterile if countries that tolerated money laundering and permitted the manufacture of precursors, continued to do so. The greatest level of demand and abuse of drugs occurred in the world's most developed countries. Consequently, the financing of drug plantations in producing nations often stemmed from those
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developed countries. He called for assistance to developing countries to help them draft new laws to ensure implementation of the international drug Conventions and to train judges and other legal personnel.
NIGEL VARNEY (United Kingdom) praised the range and vigour of UNDCP activities over the last 12 months in assisting States to tackle drug problems and in promoting subregional cooperation. The United Kingdom would continue to make substantive contributions to the Programme, preferring to devote the bulk of such funding to clearly identifiable and specific activities.
He agreed that the "sustainability" of activities should be fully considered at the design stage of a project, with the greater emphasis being placed on evaluation. The United Kingdom was pleased to see that, in a majority of the cases in which evaluation had been carried out, the projects were considered successful and sustainable. The commitment of the States concerned was a key factor in the success of projects, and, where possible, that should include a sharing of the financial burden.
JEAN-MICHEL DASQUE (France) said there was universal awareness of the importance of the debate during a time of budgetary restrictions which affected international organizations and donors. Such restrictions imposed choices and forced difficult decisions in establishing priorities.
Among UNDCP activities, his Government considered as a priority legal assistance programmes to States engaged in updating their legislation, policies and legal infrastructures to enable them to apply the international Conventions relative to the struggle against illicit drugs. A fundamental mission for the UNDCP must be the ratification by as many States as possible of the three international drug Conventions. The assistance role of the UNDCP in that regard must be encouraged and developed.
It was important, he said, to strengthen the supervision of ports and airports where containers were increasingly used for drug smuggling. France had experience in the use of scanners at its seaports and was prepared to share it. Concerning activities to establish or strengthen national laboratories specialized in the detection of drugs, his Government suggested, based on its experience of cooperation with a number of African countries, the application of a less ambitious and less expensive approach. Rather than setting up expensive laboratories, portable kits could be provided. That would be a more realistic, effective and economic solution.
GILBERT CHAUNY (Peru) said the drug scourge had reached global dimensions, and no country was spared its effects. The international community's formulation of drug-related policies and strategies should be based on the following principles: respect for national sovereignty; the need for a more integrated approach; and the inclusion of the economic and social nature of drug issues in addition to the criminal aspect.
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The international drug Conventions placed heavy emphasis on law enforcement. Those provisions needed to be reformulated to ensure an integrated and balanced approach. He supported the creation of a group of experts to consider alternative development programmes, and stressed that such activities should be given priority within the UNDCP. He agreed that 30 per cent of contributions should be directed to the general-purpose fund, but opposed the proposal for a percentage of the drug assets seized to be earmarked for the international fight, because he believed that all international contributions should be voluntary.
ADRIAN VIERITA (Romania) said the strengthening of the international legal framework was the best way for the world to face the challenges of illicit traffic and abuse of narcotics.
Recently, he continued, changes in the structure and dynamics of the criminal phenomena in Romania had led to the development of organized crime. The opening of the frontiers had produced a high traffic increase in people, transport means and goods in and out of Romania. From an exclusively transit country, Romania had become a storage place, where drugs were brought in, stored for some time and then distributed to other countries. Romania was appealing to trafficking networks of hashish from Africa and of cocaine from South America. Small amounts of the drugs stayed in Romania; the larger quantities were sold by the traffickers in the major consuming countries. The heads of the trafficking networks generally were located outside Romania; only the couriers had been detained inside the country. Thus, Romania had not been able to seize assets realized from the sale of the drugs.
The Government had taken steps to update drug control legislation and existing national institutions. It had participated in cooperative arrangements with other States to stop the activity of some of the networks of illicit drug traffickers on the "Balkan Route". No illegal laboratories for the production of drugs had been discovered in Romania. However, he urged all States to coordinate their efforts in establishing a control mechanism to prevent the diversion of chemical substances. He underscored that the illicit traffic of drugs was becoming a global problem and all States should intensify cooperation among themselves, as well as with the UNDCP and other organizations.
JAIME MARCHAN (Ecuador) said regional cooperation was essential for success in the struggle against drug abuse. The UNDCP should play a leading role in that effort. He expressed concern over the Programme's financial situation, particularly in the area of contributions to the general-purpose fund. He supported the proposal for additional general-purpose funding and appealed to the donor countries to respond positively.
He expressed dismay at the closure of the UNDCP offices in Ecuador, pointing out that any preventive mission would be most effective in areas
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where the problem had not yet occurred in alarming proportions. In facing the challenge of drug trafficking -- a priority in Ecuador's development agenda -- equal efforts had been directed towards strategies encompassing legal, preventive, treatment, financial and administrative issues. Considering the national interest, Ecuador had established Law 108 on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances to combat and eliminate their abuse and traffic.
International programmes had been strengthened, he said. Ecuador was determined in its commitment to combat illegal drugs and related criminal activities, including drug trafficking. He was against the legalization of drugs as that action would undermine other efforts and would be a retreat from the goal of total eradication of drug abuse and all of its manifestations. Ecuador was prepared to contribute to important international efforts against drug abuse.
ADIM ABDUL SAMEA (Libya) said his country had no drug plantations or production laboratories, but, because of its geographical position, served as a transit point between Africa and Europe, with its seaports and airspace being used for illegal trafficking. Domestic legislation provided for death sentences and life imprisonment for criminals involved in the drug trade. Media campaigns had heightened public awareness of the problem and a special department had been established to combat drugs.
Bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries made possible the collection of data about drug operations, he said. Libya was a party to the three international drug Conventions, and the Government's participation in international meetings had led it to intensify efforts to combat drug trafficking.
JAKOB LINDBERG (Sweden) expressed concern that the general-purpose contributions to the UNDCP were decreasing. At the same time, most countries utilized the UNDCP as a consultancy agency without taking on the financial responsibility to maintain the Programme. It was not satisfactory that only three countries, Sweden among them, provided 60 per cent of the general- purpose funding necessary to maintain core activities.
There were strong reasons to consider a UNDCP governing mechanism comprised of donor and recipient countries, he said. That body would meet three to four times a year for frank, open and informal discussions. Donor and recipient countries would together provide policy guidance and make decisions on the activities of the organization. All delegations should participate in the discussion on the present structure of the UNDCP, its financing and on possible ways of reforming the Programme.
BEYENE SEILETSION (Ethiopia) recalled that, in the past, the prevailing view was that no African country faced any significant danger from either traffic or consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Today,
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however, most African countries were under the drug siege and several cities were graduating from transit zones to consumption centres.
The increasing involvement of the African continent in the illegal cultivation, production, consumption and illicit trafficking in drugs would have negative consequences on economic growth and political stability, as well as aggravate social and medical problems, he said. That was the time for Africa to receive greater international attention so that the problem would not get out of control. While appreciative of UNDCP assistance to Ethiopia, he noted with concern the low rate of implementation of UNDCP projects in Africa.
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