INCB PRESIDENT SAYS UNITED STATES DID NOT PRESS INTERNATIONAL BOARD TO DELAY DRUG REPORT
Press Release
SOC/NAR/751
INCB PRESIDENT SAYS UNITED STATES DID NOT PRESS INTERNATIONAL BOARD TO DELAY DRUG REPORT
19970303 VIENNA, 28 February (UN Information Service) -- The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) was neither pressured nor requested by the United States to delay release of its annual report on the world drug situation, the President of the Board said today. Reached this morning by telephone, Oskar Schroeder said that published rumours that the Board had postponed the release of its report to avoid contradicting Washington on Colombia's drug control record were "totally false" .The Board, he said, is "scrupulously free of government influence and is not even controlled by the United Nations". Its 13 members serve as independent experts, and their conclusions on countries' strengths and weaknesses on implementation of international drug control treaties are regarded as impartial.
The report in question, which presents the Board's findings and views on drug control in 1996, is due for release next Tuesday, 4 March.
Articles have appeared earlier this week in the United States and Colombian press quoting anonymous sources purportedly at the United Nations as saying the Board had delayed publication of the document in order to avoid a situation similar to last year when the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) had commended Colombia's efforts almost at the same time the country was being criticized by Washington.
The same anonymous sources were said to have indicated that the Board would this year give "rave reviews" to drug-fighting initiatives by the Colombian Government while noting an increase in the production of opiates and cocaine in Colombia.
Mr. Schroeder said that while the report had been distributed to governments, he could not comment on any of its conclusions until its contents were made public next Tuesday. He said he would answer questions on the Board's findings and how it had come to its conclusions at a press conference to be held in Vienna on Tuesday morning and simultaneously in 43 other cities around the world.
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Note: In New York, the teleconferenced presentation of the report will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, 4 March, at 11:15 a.m. in room 226. Herbert Okun of the INCB will be present live. The Vienna-based Board President, Mr. Schroeder, Board member Gottfried Machata and Board secretary Herbert Schaepe will be available on screen to answer questions.