DRAFT RESOLUTIONS ON EDUCATION, YOUTH, DISABLED PERSONS, OLDER PERSONS, INTRODUCED IN THIRD COMMITTEE

24 October 1997

Press Release
GA/SHC/3423

DRAFT RESOLUTIONS ON EDUCATION, YOUTH, DISABLED PERSONS, OLDER PERSONS, INTRODUCED IN THIRD COMMITTEE

19971024 Committee Also Continues Consideration Of Crime Prevention, Criminal Justice, Drug Control

The General Assembly would take a series of actions concerning the International Year of Older Persons, the goal of education for all, implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, and policies and programmes involving youth by the terms of four draft resolutions introduced this morning in the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural).

The Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to officially launch the International Year for Older Persons in 1998 on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons, by the terms of the text on that observance. By the draft on education for all, the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and in consultation with Member States, to consider launching a decade to eradicate illiteracy.

By the draft resolution on the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, the Assembly would encourage Governments and the non-governmental community to examine key social and economic policy issues relating to the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities, such as accessibility, social services and social-safety nets, and employment and sustainable livelihoods. By the text on youth, the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to make the report of the third session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations system, to be held in August 1998, available to all Member States.

Also this morning, the Committee continued its consideration of issues relating to crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control. Member States expressed concern about the growing threat of international organized crime and illicit drugs.

Third Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/SHC/3423 14th Meeting (AM) 24 October 1997

The representative of the Republic of Korea said he was concerned about the ability of the global criminal element to continually employ new, creative means by which to subvert the international community's efforts to control their activities. The representative of Iran stressed the need to strengthen the capacities of developing countries through international cooperation and technical assistance to ensure a successful fight against transnational organized crime.

Speaking also for Moldova, the representative of Ukraine said the complications of social and economic development in the newly emerging democracies worsened the spread of drug abuse and related offenses. He called on the United Nations Drug Control Programme to upgrade its assistance to such States. The representative of Lebanon called for assistance and technical aid to help his country promote and establish health and rehabilitation programmes for drug addicts.

Statements on the issue were also made by the representatives of Kazakstan (also for Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation), Egypt, Bahrain, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, China and Indonesia, as well as by the Executive Director of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention. The representatives of Germany, Mongolia, the Philippines and the Netherlands, respectively, introduced the draft resolutions.

The Third Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 27 October, to continue its consideration of issues relating to crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control.

Committee Work Programme

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this morning to hear the introduction of draft resolutions on issues related to social development and advancement of women which the Economic and Social Council has recommended to the Assembly for adoption.

The Committee would also continue its consideration of issues related to crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control. It had before it the relevant sections of the report of the Economic and Social Council, reports of the Secretary-General and five draft resolutions on crime prevention and criminal justice.

Social Development Texts

Draft resolutions were to be introduced to the Committee on the following social development issues: the International Year of Older Persons; education for all; implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons; and policies and programmes involving youth.

By the draft text on the International Year of Older Persons (document A/C.3/52/L.2) the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to officially launch the International Year for Older Persons in 1998, on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons. It would decide to devote four plenary meetings at its fifty-fourth session to follow up on the Year. The Assembly would encourage all States, the United Nations system and all other actors to take advantage of the Year to increase awareness of the challenge posed by the demographic ageing of societies, the individual and social needs of older persons, the contribution of older persons to societies, and the need for a change in attitudes towards older persons.

Member States would be invited to take account of the increasing number and percentage of older persons in need of help. They would also be asked to develop comprehensive strategies at the national, regional and local levels to meet the increased demand for care and support for older persons -- as individuals, within their families and communities, and within institutions -- bearing in mind the changing socio-economic, technological and cultural environment.

The Assembly would emphasize that activities for the Year should be initiated primarily at the national level. Among the actions to be taken by Member States, the Assembly would: encourage States to establish a national focal point and formulate national programmes for the Year, bearing in mind the conceptual framework referred to in a 1995 Assembly resolution on the Year; and invite States to consider convening high-level and other meetings at the regional level to discuss the theme, "A society for all ages".

Third Committee - 4 - Press Releasee GA/SHC/3423 14th Meeting (AM) 24 October 1997

By other terms of the text, the Assembly would call upon States to include a gender dimension in their national programmes for the Year. Non-governmental organizations, including those specialized on the question of older persons, would be invited to develop programmes and projects for the Year, in cooperation, with local authorities, community leaders, enterprises, the media and schools. National and international development agencies, bodies and international financial institutions would be invited to explore feasible approaches to improving the access of older persons to credit training and appropriate technologies for income generation, as well as the participation of older persons in family enterprises, community enterprises and microenterprises.

In addition, the draft proposal would encourage the Secretary-General to allocate sufficient resources for promoting and coordinating activities for the Year, bearing in mind a resolution adopted by the Assembly at its forty-seventh session in which it was decided that observance of the Year would be supported from resources of the regular budget for the biennium 1998-1999, as well as from voluntary contributions.

By an additional text before the Committee, the Dominican Republic, Germany and Spain propose amendments to the draft resolution concerning the Year. (For details, see document A/c.3/52/L.10)

By the terms of the 16-Power draft resolution on education for all (document A/C.3/52/L.11), the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and in consultation with Member States, to consider launching a decade to eradicate illiteracy as a means towards achieving the goal of education for all. The Secretary-General would be asked to report to the Assembly's 1999 session on the feasibility of launching the decade, and the Assembly would include the question of cooperation towards education for all under its item on social development for that session.

By other terms of the draft, the Assembly would recommend that Member States, relevant United Nations organizations and non-governmental organizations, provide information on implementing the strategies of education for all to both the Secretary-General and Director-General of UNESCO, to enable them to report on progress and shortfalls in attaining that goal. It would reaffirm that basic education for all was an effective means for achieving the aims of eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth and achieving gender equality, as well as ensuring democracy, peace and sustainable development. The Assembly would appeal to all governments to step up their efforts to eradicate illiteracy and to direct education towards the full development of the human personality and the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Third Committee - 5 - Press Releasee GA/SHC/3423 14th Meeting (AM) 24 October 1997

The draft is sponsored by Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Germany, Jordan, Madagascar, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Sudan and Turkey.

By a 10-Power draft resolution on implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons (document A/C.3/52/L.12), the Assembly would encourage governments and the non-governmental community to examine key social and economic policy issues relating to the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities. In particular, they would be asked to address such issues as accessibility, social services and social safety nets, and employment and sustainable livelihoods. The Assembly would also decide that the next quinquennial review of the World Programme of Action, in 2002, shall consider those key economic and policy issues relating to the disabled.

By other terms of the draft, governments and the private sector would be invited to continue to support the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability, with a view to providing additional support for implementation of the Standard Rules on the equalization of opportunities, including further assistance in national capacity-building and support for the work of the Special Rapporteur on Disability. The Assembly would ask the Secretary- General to develop a plan to increase the accessibility of the United Nations and its offices and meetings to persons with disabilities. In addition, the Assembly would note with appreciation the valuable work undertaken by the Commission for Social Development's Special Rapporteur on Disability. It would also welcome the second round of monitoring the implementation of the Standard Rules and the cooperation of the Special Rapporteur with the Commission on Human Rights, especially with the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Canada, Costa Rica, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Sweden and Turkey.

By a 29-Power draft resolution on policies and programmes involving youth (document A/C.3/52/L.13), the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to make the report of the third session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations system, to be held in August 1998 and of the forthcoming World Conference available to all Member States. He would also be asked to report to the Assembly at its 1999 session on implementation of the resolution, in particular on progress made in implementing the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond. Member States would be called upon to undertake all efforts to implement the World Programme of Action.

The draft is sponsored by Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Bangladesh, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Greece, Honduras, Kenya, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Turkey and Uruguay.

Third Committee - 6 - Press Releasee GA/SHC/3423 14th Meeting (AM) 24 October 1997

Crime Prevention, Criminal Justice

In its consideration of the issue of crime prevention and criminal justice, the Committee had before it the Secretary-General's reports on strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders. It also had before it the five draft resolutions of the Economic and Social Council recommended to the Assembly for adoption.

The draft resolutions address the following issues: follow-up to the Naples Political Declaration and Global Action Plan against Organized Transnational Crime; preparations for the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders; crime prevention and criminal justice measures to eliminate violence against women; international cooperation against corruption and bribery in international commercial transactions; and international cooperation in criminal matters.

Also before the Committee is a letter from the Permanent Representative of Austria containing a draft of an international agreement against illegal migrants (document A/52/357).

International Drug Control

On the issue of international drug control, the Committee had before it two reports of the Secretary-General. One concerns implementation of the Global Programme of Action relating to international drug control and a note by the Secretary-General transmitting a report on preparations for the special General Assembly session to be held in 1998 on the question of narcotic drugs. The other is a report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, acting as preparatory body for the Assembly's special session to consider the fight against the illicit production, sale, demand, traffic and distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and related activities.

The Committee also had before it two letters: one from the Permanent Representative of Cambodia transmitting a letter from the First Prime Minister of Cambodia regarding illicit drug trafficking in Cambodia; and one from the Permanent Representative of the Marshall Islands transmitting the communiqué of the twenty-eighth South Pacific Forum, held at Rarotonga, Cook Islands, from 17 to 19 September.

(For summaries of the documents on crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control, see Press Release GA/SHC/3422 of 23 October.)

Third Committee - 7 - Press Releasee GA/SHC/3423 14th Meeting (AM) 24 October 1997

Statements

PATRICIA FLOR (Germany) introduced the proposed amendments to the draft resolution on the International Year of Older Persons

TSOGT NYAMISUREN (Mongolia) introduced the draft resolution on education for all (document A/C.3/52/L.11). She said that Belgium, Canada, Greece, Guinea, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, France, Netherlands, Philippines, Portugal and Spain had joined in co-sponsoring the text.

MARIA LOURDES V. RAMIRO-LOPEZ (Philippines) introduced the draft resolution on implementation of the Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons. She said that Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Japan, Malaysia, Germany, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands and San Marino had joined as co-sponsors of the draft.

MARION VAN HOUTE (Netherlands) introduced the draft resolution on policies and programmes involving youth. She said that Belgium, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Ghana, San Marino, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Sweden had joined as co-sponsors.

She went on to propose a number of amendments to the draft.

The words "and third" would be deleted from operative paragraph 7, which currently reads as follows:

"Recommends that the results of the World Youth Forum at its second and third sessions be duly taken into account at the World Conference;"

A new paragraph would then be added, as follows:

"Notes with interest that the outcome of the third session of the World Youth Forum will be presented at the World Conference;"

In the opening of operative paragraph 8, the word "including" would be replaced by "consider including", to read:

"Reiterates the call made in the Programme of Action to Member States to consider including youth representatives in their delegations to the General Assembly and other relevant United Nations meetings, ...".

AKMARAL KH. ARYSTANBEKOVA (Kazakhstan), also speaking on behalf of Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation, said that drug addiction remained an urgent global problem. Drug control needed to be addressed together with such related elements as money laundering and halting the demand for narcotic drugs. Information already available should be acted on while developing new strategies.

Third Committee - 8 - Press Releasee GA/SHC/3423 14th Meeting (AM) 24 October 1997

The present programme in her region included bilateral and regional agreements, she said. Such measures were taken in conjunction with the United Nations drug and crime programmes. Customs and law enforcement agencies had played a major role in regional drug control actions, in an overall programme which included both legal and normative instruments, as well as exchange of statistics and information.

The experience accumulated in her region was open to all, she said. It was hoped that the mutual interaction between regions and on the international level would create a single anti-drug front.

YEHIA ODA (Egypt) said that traffic in drugs remained one of the gravest of social problems, posing a particular danger for young people. The United Nations drug programmes were commendable, but they were not sufficient. Efforts made by governments were also commendable but must be stepped up. Priority must be given to preventive measures to curb the problem that was a threat to all societies. National expertise must be made available to the United Nations Drug Control Programme.

Egypt had placed drug control at the very forefront of its concerns, because it impacted on all other social advancement efforts, he said. Its programmes ranged from sanctions against drug traffickers to treatment for drug abusers. His country's particular arena of involvement in terms of drug control was the Middle East and Africa. Egypt was ready to cooperate with United Nations anti-drug efforts. He called on all specialized agencies and donor countries to fund such activities.

MOHAMMED SALEH (Bahrain) said that advances in such areas as science and communications had increased the seriousness of the drug problem. The trade in drugs threatened both economic and human resources. Bahrain's efforts to surmount the problem included the establishment of a special clinic for the treatment of addicts. Patients were only treated by the clinic, making it possible to monitor the problem of drug flow.

Both the Government and civil groups had undertaken broad-ranged programmes to address the problem, he said. Those included lectures, the production of publications with information on health aspects of drug use, and programmes for unemployed patients. The penal code had been amended and punishment had been increased to life imprisonment or death sentences.

Bahrain was coordinating with its sister States in the Gulf to address the issue, he said. Their regional programme combined such elements as the gathering and exchange of carrier information. Those efforts had helped to control the problem and it was hoped that it would be eliminated entirely.

PEDRO PAULO D'ESCRAGNOLLE-TAUNAY (Brazil) said prevention was the basic principle guiding Brazilian policy on crime and criminal justice. The rehabilitation of condemned criminals and their integration into society had

Third Committee - 9 - Press Releasee GA/SHC/3423 14th Meeting (AM) 24 October 1997

been key elements in that approach. Other measures were aimed at reducing the problem of overcrowded prisons. Specific legislation classifying unlawful arms possession as a crime had also been adopted. In addition, a campaign for disarmament had been launched to create awareness of the problem of small arms and to reduce the number of homicides. The problem of delinquency was also being addressed.

The Brazilian strategy to combat international organized crime encompassed the modernization of laws, increased cooperation among police organizations, and strengthening the Brazilian federal and inter-state police, he said. In addition, the Government had adopted a programme for integrating public security information. Several agreements had been signed or were in the process of being negotiated within the Common Market of the Southern Cone (MERCOSUR) and with other countries aimed at combating organized crime, corruption, trafficking in narcotic drugs, smuggling and money laundering. To combat the increase in the theft of vehicles, the federal government was modernizing its relevant legislation.

Brazil had been modernizing its institutional framework and updating its legislation regarding narcotic drugs, he said. An anti-drug national action programme launched last year which emphasized prevention, law enforcement and rehabilitation had achieved almost all of its objectives. Brazil had also enlarged the list of countries with which it had bilateral cooperation agreements in the area of drug control.

HASSAN KASSEM NAJEM (Lebanon) said international cooperation was required to eradicate all aspects of the international drug problem. Despite many years of war in Lebanon, his Government had made serious efforts to fight illicit drugs and had remained active in the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP). His country had signed all international conventions concerning the fight against drugs and was implementing them.

He said his Government had been successful in eliminating all crops of illicit drugs and hoped that no more existed in the country. Its serious approach had been evident to international missions on illicit drug control which had visited the country. Assistance was now being sought for persons who had grown illicit drug crops. He called on the UNDCP to provide assistance in the area of alternative crops and rural development. In addition, friendly countries were asked to offer assistance and technical aid to help Lebanon in promoting alternative crops and in establishing health and rehabilitation programmes for drug addicts.

ABDULBAGI AJLAAN (Saudi Arabia) said the scourge of drugs was adversely affecting the entire international community, causing social and economic problems. It was a threat to the safety of human societies, far greater than that posed by sophisticated weapons. To combat the scourge of illicit drugs, his Government had taken all necessary measures at the local, regional and international levels. It had signed all the international conventions on the

Third Committee - 10 - Press Releasee GA/SHC/3423 14th Meeting (AM) 24 October 1997

matter and also adopted relevant legislation. Collective international efforts could help to dry up the sources used by the international drug mafia.

The problem of illicit drugs had nothing to do with a country's wealth, he said. Adherence to religious principles could help to prevent the proliferation of illicit drugs and to eliminate them. Social, cultural and religious education was also important to help individuals from slipping into drug use. The problem of illicit drugs was responsible for increased crime and the weakening of families. There should be more programmes for the treatment of drug addicts. The experience of countries which had experienced successes in that area could be beneficial to other countries.

MYKOLA A. MELENEVSKY (Ukraine), speaking also on behalf of Moldova, said the complications of social and economic development in the newly emerging democracies made the spread of drug abuse and related offences worse. The interests of multinational drug rings were targeted at the new, potentially highly profitable market in his region. States in the region had taken numerous steps to control the problem but with inadequate resources. The UNDCP should upgrade its assistance to such States within the relevant international programmes.

Aa a coordinator in combating drug abuse, the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs was of great value, he said. The problem of synthetic drugs was a matter of growing concern which should be monitored and controlled at the national level. Attempts to liberalize national legislation and policies regarding narcotic drugs were unacceptable since that would aggravate the problem. He also opposed the use of methadone programmes for the treatment of drug addicts.

Welcoming the upcoming special session, he said it should focus on a narrow scope of specific issues and elaborate practical solutions. There was a particular need for a more active exchange of information.

MOHAMMAD-REZA SABAGH-AMIRKHIZI (Iran) said his country was seriously affected by the drug trade because of its position between drug producers in the east and consumer markets in Europe. Tighter measures must be taken against international havens for such related activities as money laundering.

With regard to crime prevention and criminal justice programme, he said that strengthening the capacities of developing countries through international cooperation and technical assistance was a must for a successful fight against transnational organized crime. He drew attention to what he described as an unprecedented initiative to collect all illegal arms and ammunition -- an effort which had met with a very positive response from the public in his country. During the initiative, more than 400,000 illegally possessed arms were turned in voluntarily.

Third Committee - 11 - Press Releasee GA/SHC/3423 14th Meeting (AM) 24 October 1997

RODOLFO REYES RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said the redirection of priorities, as the reorganization at the United Nations Vienna Office, should be a decision of Member States. Cuba had no social drug problem, but its geographical position made it an important agent in helping to curb drug trafficking. There was no middle-ground on the question on drug -- they had to be eliminated or society would be destroyed. In line with the UNDCP, all forms of cooperation -- bilateral, subregional, regional and international -- must be fostered.

DIAO MINGSHENG (China) said organized crime constituted a grave threat to political stability and economic and social development. The Naples Declaration and Global Plan of Action had given impetus to the international community's joint efforts to control and prevent transnational organized crime. The United Nations efforts in that regard were appreciated. The Chinese Government had been actively implementing the Naples Political Declaration. In April this year, it had revised its penal code to bring its legislation into line with that of the international community.

To strengthen its cooperation with other countries, the Chinese Government had called for the elaboration of a convention against organized crime as soon as possible, he said. Such a convention should consider the specific background of different countries to maximize the number of countries that would accede to it. The United Nations should play a greater role in combating organized transnational crime by providing up-to-date information and professional advice to Member States to enhance their efforts. Consideration should be given to the establishment of an appropriate coordinating mechanism, and increased resources could be allocated to crime prevention, particularly transnational organized crime.

He appealed to the United Nations to allocate more resources for technical assistance to developing countries that needed it most. Exchanges and cooperation between Member States in the areas of extradition and other matters relating to criminal justice should be strengthened, in accordance with the principle of equality, mutual benefit and relevant norms of international law. Differences in ideology and values should be put aside in the interest of strengthening cooperation, so that each State could make its own contribution to the control and prevention of organized crime.

SUTJIPTOHARDJO DONOKUSUMO (Indonesia) said that while he welcomed the expansion of the operational capacity of the United Nations anti-crime programme and the increase in technical assistance projects, he regretted that further progress would be hampered because of financial constraints. Donor countries and international funding agencies should make significant contributions for technical assistance projects under the crime prevention programme. The activities of the UNDCP global programme against money laundering was welcome. The Tenth Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, to be held in the year 2000, should be practical and specific in its work and recommendations. The Commission on Crime Prevention

Third Committee - 12 - Press Releasee GA/SHC/3423 14th Meeting (AM) 24 October 1997

and Criminal Justice should provide assistance for national preparations for the Congress.

There was merit in establishing an inter-sessional open-ended working group of experts to elaborate a preliminary draft of a comprehensive intentional convention against organized transnational crime, he said. The group of experts could be asked to consider the need for special provisions related to specific types of crime, such as trafficking in children. Indonesia supported the measures being taken under the auspices of the United Nations to enhance cooperation on firearms regulation and welcomed measures being taken by the Commission to combat violence against women. The draft Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence against Women in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice would provide a useful guide for action.

He said he had serious doubts on the benefits to be gained by merging the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice with the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. Although the areas overlapped, their mandates were distinct and separate. Because of the need for a common strategy to combat organized transnational crime, measures should not be contemplated which might inadvertently detract from that effort.

CHANG BEOM CHO (Republic of Korea) said he was concerned about the growing ability of the global criminal element to continually employ new, creative means by which to subvert the international community's efforts to control their activities. By capitalizing on rapid technological advances and the prevailing trend of globalization, their nefarious activities had increasingly serious consequences. Crime struck at the heart of communities and undermined political stability, democracy and even economic development in many developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Therefore, the international community must develop a comparable mechanism effectively to contain illicit incursions into the global community.

The Secretary-General's initiative to transform the Division for Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice into a Centre for International Crime Prevention should be sustained by the introduction of new pragmatic strategies, he said. By focusing on specific priority goals, limited resources could be optimized, to avoid the possibility of overextending resources. The reallocation of resources to operational capabilities should be further encouraged through savings in administrative and conference services. Some 25 technical cooperation projects had been put on hold because of a lack of resources. While additional resources should be mobilized, maximize use must be made of finite resources.

Preparatory meetings for the special session on international drug control should attempt to gain strong commitments from Member States in the area of eradication of illicit crops and alternative development, he said. New initiatives undertaken at the special session would better position the

Third Committee - 13 - Press Releasee GA/SHC/3423 14th Meeting (AM) 24 October 1997

international community to tackle all aspects of the drug problem in a comprehensive and balanced manner. The session's political declaration should contain a strong commitment by Member States to control the proliferation of drugs, so as to add to the momentum of existing efforts. The special session should also be a forum which produced new strategies and methods to address newly emerging trends, such as the illicit manufacturing, trafficking and use of amphetamine-type stimulants.

PINO ARLACCHI, Executive Director of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, said he had been in contact with the field office in Islamabad with regard to work relating to drug issues in Afghanistan. The Taliban Foreign Minister had stated in a clarification that trade and consumption was prohibited in the entire territory and that the Taliban was allowing the United Nations to participate in the monitoring process. It was also allowing access to a United Nations officer involved in control. Since Afghanistan was a major opium producer, the clarification from the Taliban was good news, he said.

* *** *