MEXICO OFFERS NEW UN CHIEF IN VIENNA $300,000 FOR INTERNATIONAL FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS
Press Release
SOC/NAR/766
MEXICO OFFERS NEW UN CHIEF IN VIENNA $300,000 FOR INTERNATIONAL FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS
19970905 VIENNA, 5 September (UN Information Service) -- Mexico's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna this afternoon presented $300,000 on behalf of her Government to the United Nations world-wide campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. Roberta Lajous, who is also Ambassador to Austria, made the donation during her meeting this afternoon with Pino Arlacchi, the new Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna.Mexico intends the funds to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) to promote concerted global action to combat the many manifestations of the world's drug problem.
In taking this action, Mexico is responding to an appeal issued last year by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs which is seeking to broaden the Programme's base of voluntary donors. Since adoption of the resolution concerned, $2.5 million has been pledged, over and above other voluntary contributions received by the UNDCP for global drug control activities.
Mr. Arlacchi, who took office on Monday, 1 September, has also been named by Secretary-General Kofi Annan as Executive Director of the UNDCP. Under the Secretary-General's overall United Nations reform plan, the Organization will consolidate existing Vienna units to forge a new Vienna-based United Nations centre against drug trafficking, organized crime and terrorism.
For further information, contact UNIS Vienna, tel.: (43-1) 21345-4666; fax: (43-1) 21345-5899; e-mail: vpetzoldt@unvienna.un.or.at
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