THIRD COMMITTEE TOLD DESTRUCTION OF MYTH OF INVINCIBILITY OF CRIMINAL CARTELS SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGH OF LAST 15 YEARS' FIGHT AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME

Press Release
GA/SHC/3467

THIRD COMMITTEE TOLD DESTRUCTION OF MYTH OF INVINCIBILITY OF CRIMINAL CARTELS SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGH OF LAST 15 YEARS' FIGHT AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME

Significant breakthroughs were achieved in the fight against organized crime, but the single most important accomplishment in the last 15 years was the destruction of the myth of invincibility of criminal cartels, the Executive Director of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) this morning.

As the Committee began consideration of crime prevention and drug control issues, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, Pino Arlacchi, said in recent years, Colombia had dismantled two of the most powerful criminal coalitions that had ever existed -- the Medellin and Cali cartels -- and in South-East Asia, some of the most famous drug lords of the former Golden Triangle had negotiated with governments for a withdrawal from the drug trade. It was now time to attack the structural underpinnings of major crime groups worldwide, he added.

He also said a new can-do spirit was evident at the special session of the General Assembly on the drug problem held in June, which had been a great success. The era of finger-pointing in international drug control was over. Member States had agreed to a package of measures to reduce the demand and supply of illegal drugs within precise time frames, and had acknowledged the link between demand and supply reduction. It was crucial to provide alternative means of income-generation for those dependent upon illicit drug harvests, he stressed.

The representative of the United States said that the dangerous link between narcotics and international crime held one saving grace for the international community: they could be fought at the same time with the same weapons. While drug abuse had dropped significantly in the United States, an estimated 13 million Americans still used drugs. His Government had requested $17 billion for an anti-drug budget for the fiscal year 1999 to implement its national strategy on drugs.

Speaking on behalf of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the representative of Swaziland said commitments to combat the illegal

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production and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances required financial support and strengthened subregional and regional cooperation. Such efforts would be justified by the fact that the international drugs trade undermined development, socio-economic and political stability both within and among nations.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Austria (on behalf of the European Union), Mexico, Panama (on behalf of the Rio Group), Japan, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bahrain, Ethiopia and Benin.

Also this morning, the Committee concluded its consideration of issues related to social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family.

In concluding remarks, John Langmore, Director of the United Nations Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Development, said the discussion of social development had been an impressive debate with many suggestions for long-term changes. Of particular interest were reports on the many national activities being undertaken, and comments on the first World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, held in Lisbon, and the third World Youth Forum of the United Nations System, held in Braga, Portugal. There had been a personal dimension and a humanity to the debate, he added.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 9 October, to continue its consideration of crime prevention and criminal justice and international drug control.

Committee Work Programme

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this morning to begin consideration of crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control. It is also scheduled to conclude its consideration of social development issues, including questions related to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family. (For background information on the documents relating to social development, see Press Release GA/SHC/3464 of 5 October.)

The Committee has before it the Secretary-General's reports on strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and on the African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders. It also has before it three draft resolutions recommended by the Economic and Social Council to the General Assembly for adoption of the following topics: preparations for the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders; transnational organized crime; and mutual assistance and international cooperation in criminal matters.

In addition, the Committee will take up Secretary-General's reports on the status of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, on the implementation of the Global Programme of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its seventeenth special session and on the implementation of the United Nations System-Wide Action Plan on Drug Abuse Control.

The report of the Secretary-General on progress made in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 52/90 (document A/53/380) concerns follow up to that text, which is entitled "Strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, particularly its technical cooperation capacity". 1998 marks the fiftieth anniversary of United Nations involvement in crime prevention and criminal justice, and the report was written following a period during which intergovernmental bodies took a fresh look at the Programme.

The report reviews a series of issues dealt with by the seventh session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, held in Vienna in April. Its main theme was transnational organized crime, one of the priority areas of the Programme's work. A detailed report on technical cooperation under the Programme activities was presented to the Commission at its seventh session. According to the report, the Centre for International Crime Prevention was associated with the provision of technical cooperation to some 23 countries worldwide.

The Centre had recently begun to concentrate its technical cooperation activities in national and regional programmes to combat organized crime,

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corruption and bribery, the report goes on. There were three main anti- corruption projects under implementation in Lebanon, Romania and in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Centre also formulated and implemented projects to improve prison conditions, to counter domestic violence, and to strengthen the capacity of criminal institutions generally.

Among its other activities in the period under review, the Centre also intensified its cooperation with the United Nations International Drug Control Programme in the context of the new Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, in particular with regard to projects in Africa, Central Asia, the Balkans and the Caribbean region.

The report notes progress made in the preparations for the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders. It also covers international cooperation in combating organized transnational crime; measures to regulate firearms; the development, analysis and policy use of crime and criminal justice information and the computerization of criminal justice operations; and the use and application of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice.

The report by the Secretary-General on the African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (document A/53/381) stated that in 1997, the Institute received political support from the General Assembly, the Conference of African Ministers Responsible for Economic and Social Development and Planning, and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, to help in promoting and coordinating regional technical cooperation activities related to crime prevention and criminal justice in Africa. Inadequate funding had prevented the Institute from delivering satisfactory services to African States, according to the report.

The Institute's activities for 1998-1999 included a workshop entitled "Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters in Africa: Exchange of Interregional Experience and Implementation of International Principles, held at Kampala in April. Also, a crime and victimization survey was launched in June as a joint research project to be carried out with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, which will be the coordinator of the project, and the University of South Africa.

According to the report, total resources for 1998 amounted to $410,414. The funds were made available by contributions from Member States, a United Nations grant, grants in relation to specific projects and income generated by the rental of the Institute's premises and facilities.

In its fifth ordinary session (October 1997), the Governing Board of the Institute reiterated that the Institute was important for promoting the rule of law in Africa, states the report. Except for the host Government, Member States showed decreasing interest in funding its programmes. Now, the

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Institute's viability depended on a United Nations grant and extra-budgetary contributions from the United States.

A draft resolution on the preparations for the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (document A/C.3/53/L.2) is recommended to the General Assembly for adoption. By terms of that draft, the Assembly would accept with gratitude the invitation of the Government of Austria to host the Tenth Congress at Vienna. It would decide to hold the Congress from 10 to 17 April 2000, with pre-Congress consultations to be held on 9 April 2000. It would also approve a provisional agenda for the Congress, that would include discussion of the following topics: "international cooperation in combating transnational crime: challenges in the twenty-first century"; and "offenders and victims: accountability and fairness in the justice process".

By further terms of the draft, the Assembly would endorse the programme of work for the Tenth Congress, including the holding of four practically- oriented technical workshops on the subjects of combating corruption, crimes relating to the computer network, community involvement in crime prevention, and women in the criminal justice system. The Assembly would also decide that the theme of the Congress should be "Crime and justice: meeting the challenges of the twenty-first century".

The Assembly would decide to streamline and minimize the costs of the preparation and servicing of the regional preparatory meetings by shortening their duration and limiting their documentation, according to other terms of the text. It would also request the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as the preparatory body for the Congress, to accord high priority at its eighth session to the finalization in good time of all the necessary organizational and substantive arrangements, and to prepare a draft declaration for submission to the Tenth Congress.

The Assembly would also decide that the Commission, at its tenth session, should undertake review of the role, function, periodicity and duration of the United Nations congresses on the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders.

By further terms of the draft, the Assembly would request the Secretary- General to undertake the necessary logistic steps, in collaboration with Member States and the institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network, to mobilize the participation of interested partners in the preparations for the four workshops. The Secretary-General would also be requested to ensure, in collaboration with Member States, a wide and effective programme of public information related to the preparations for the Tenth Congress.

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By the terms of a draft on transnational organized crime (document A/C.3/53/L.3), the General Assembly would urge Member States to continue making every possible effort to fully implement the Naples Political Declaration and Global Action Plan through legislative regulatory and administrative measures, including those aimed at prevention.

The Assembly would request the Secretary-General to continue work on elaborating training manuals for law enforcement and judicial personnel on action against transnational organized crime; to intensify efforts to identify and allocate resources for strengthening the capacity of the Centre for International Crime Prevention; and to continue providing Member States with technical cooperation, advisory services and other forms of assistance in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice.

The Assembly would also decide to establish an open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc committee to elaborate a comprehensive international convention against transnational organized crime. It would request the Secretary-General to convene a meeting of the ad hoc committee at Vienna from 18 to 29 January, and would decide to accept the recommendation of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to elect Luigi Lauriola (Italy) as the chairman of the ad hoc committee. The ad hoc committee would be requested to take into account the report of the inter-sessional open-ended intergovernmental group of experts, the report of the working group on the implementation of the Naples Plan of Action, as well as relevant Economic and Social Council resolutions.

By the terms of a draft on mutual assistance and international cooperation in criminal matters (document A/C.3/53/L.4), the General Assembly would welcome the report of the Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters held in February 1998 and would decide that the Model Treaty on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters should be complemented by the provisions set out as annex I to the resolution (listing complementary provisions for the Model Treaty on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters).

The Assembly would also request the Secretary-General to elaborate model legislation on mutual assistance in criminal matters, and would invite Member States to consider a number of measures in the context of the application of treaties on mutual assistance in criminal matters, such as establishing national central authorities to process requests for assistance. He would also be requested to regularly update and disseminate information, to continue providing advisory and technical cooperation services to Member States, and to provide training on mutual assistance law and practice for personnel in governmental agencies and for central authorities. It would further request the Secretary-General to assist in developing appropriate training materials.

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The Assembly would also commend the International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences of Siracusa, Italy, for its offer to host up to two training seminars for mutual assistance officials, and would urge Member States and funding agencies to assist the Secretary-General in implementing the present resolution through voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund. A second annex to the resolution contains elements recommended for inclusion in model legislation on mutual assistance in criminal matters.

The report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 (document A/53/383) states that, as of 30 June, 147 countries were parties to the Convention. Some States that became parties to the 1988 Convention during the two-year reporting period ending in June this year had expressed reservations to specific provisions. Those States were Austria, Belize, Lebanon, Singapore, Viet Nam and Colombia.

Some activities undertaken by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) to implement the 1988 Convention included: the provision of legal assistance to Member States that requested it in adjusting their national laws, policies and infrastructure; commentary that might assist States in their interpretation of the 1988 Convention; and activities of the global programme against money-laundering.

Addressing measures to promote judicial cooperation, the report outlines a number of practical recommendations concerning extradition, mutual legal assistance, transfer of proceedings, illicit traffic by sea, and other forms of cooperation. Some recommendations by the General Assembly to ensure the effectiveness of common efforts to reduce illicit production of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are as follows: a balanced approach to confront high levels of illicit cultivation; strengthening of international cooperation for alternative development; improved and innovative approaches to alternative development; enhanced monitoring, evaluation and information-sharing; and law enforcement in controlling illicit crops.

The report by the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Global Programme of Action (document A/53/382) presents an overview of approaches and policies developed by States individually or in cooperation with other States or international organizations, including concrete examples of programmes and measures implemented at the national level for drug control. The report contains an evaluation of progress on the implementation of the Global Programme of Action and recommendations on ways and means of improving implementation.

The report states that, as of 7 August, 54 Governments had submitted responses to a questionnaire on the activities undertaken by Member States to implement the Global Programme of Action. Several Governments had sought

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bilateral or international assistance to complement their efforts. At its twentieth special session last June, which was a landmark event of the United Nations Decade against Drug Abuse (1991-2000), Member States had adopted a Political Declaration recommending that all States adopt money-laundering legislation and programmes by the year 2003. Member States also adopted an Action Plan to implement those measures as well as to improve cooperation and the exchange of information among them. As of 30 June, 164 States were parties to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961.

The United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) has also pursued efforts to build partnerships with civil society, particularly the private sector, the report further states. It launched a five-year model programme aimed at reducing drug and alcohol abuse that touched 250,000 employees from 43 companies in five countries. It had also financially supported 51 non-governmental organizations from developing countries with grants.

The report of the Secretary-General on implementation of the United Nations System-Wide Action Plan on Drug Abuse Control (document A/53/129- E/1998/58) notes the progress made in six of the original plans of action and two plans that were subsequently added. The United Nations System-Wide Action Plan on Drug Abuse Control was first mandated by the General Assembly in 1989. In 1993, the Assembly requested that the Plan be reviewed and updated on a biennial basis.

At its first regular session of 1995, the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) requested its Subcommittee on Drug Control to review, strengthen and render operational the System-Wide Action Plan. The new Plan was to be based on multi-agency sectoral and subsectoral plans of action, which would be incremental and eventually cover the whole scope of drug control concerns.

The first version of the new Plan, comprising six such plans of action, was submitted to the Economic and Social Council in 1996. They cover drug abuse prevention in the school environment; drug abuse prevention among children and youth in especially difficult circumstances; drug abuse prevention among rural youth; drug abuse prevention in the work place; women and drug abuse: the gender dimension; and assessment of drug abuse: data collection. The additional plans of action cover drugs, imprisonment and alternative sentencing; and drug abuse and trafficking in conflict and post- conflict situations.

Statement by Head of Drug Control, Crime Prevention Office

PINO ARLACCHI, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, speaking on international drug control, said there was a new spirit of optimism both within the Organization and in the

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international community. A year ago, when he had taken office, the international community was defensive in its outlook towards the drug issue. That attitude had been challenged head-on.

The mission guide to civil society had been re-energized, he said. The Assembly's special session on the drug problem in June had endorsed a global strategy to drastically reduce the trafficking, abuse and production of illegal drugs by 2008. There were new commitments to promote judicial cooperation, counter money laundering and halt the rise of amphetamine-type stimulants. Finally, there was a fresh wind in the field of international narcotics control, in a belief that important successes could be achieved by working together.

Many successes had already been achieved all over the world, he said. In Bolivia, for example, the drug cartels of the 1980s had been dismantled. In the United States, the average number of monthly cocaine abusers had been reduced from almost six million in 1985 to less than two million today.

The new can-do spirit was evident at the Assembly's special session in June, which had been a great success, he said. The era of finger-pointing in international drug control was over. Member States had agreed to a package of measures to reduce the demand and supply of illegal drugs within precise time frames. The Declaration on Demand Reduction codified the balanced approach, acknowledging the link between demand and supply reduction. That was a shift for some countries as they had previously focused on a law enforcement approach.

The international community had committed itself to reduce or eliminate illicit crops over the next 10 years, he said. It remained crucial to provide alternative means of income-generation for those dependent upon illicit drug harvests. A global project to monitor the illicit cultivation of narcotic crops was being developed, under the Action Plan endorsed by the special session, which called upon governments to design accurate monitoring and verification mechanisms.

There were emerging problems that the international community must deal with, he said. Topping the list was the rapid rise of abuse and production of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and the misuse of the global financial system to launder money. ATS production was difficult to counter since many such drugs had originated as legal medicines. They were popular among young people who could use the Internet to find recipes for clandestine manufacture, correct use of precursors and how to avoid law enforcement. In the European Union alone, seizures of ATS had increased five-fold between 1990 and 1996. The special session had adopted a powerful Action Plan against ATS.

The session had also established a universal set of measures to close the gap between nations which had strict laws and those that were more easily

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exploited by lax enforcement of loopholes in procedure, he said. The Global Programme Against Money Laundering was on the cutting edge of the problem.

With continued support, the UNDCP could play a truly global role in developing expertise, and serve as the world's early-warning system against emerging drug problems, he said. That could be accomplished by seeing the big picture, acting as a global coordinator, and being close to where the problems existed. The UNDCP was a partner in working to strengthen law enforcement capabilities, eradicate illicit crops, rehabilitate drug abusers and reduce the trafficking of illegal narcotics.

Turning to crime prevention and criminal justice, he said that in spite of its global growth, it should be remembered that organized crime was a historical phenomenon like any other. It had a life-cycle, which had a beginning, a developmental phase, and an end. His personal experience had taught him there was nothing metaphysical in the nature of the mafia. Significant breakthroughs had been achieved in the fight against organized crime, but the single most important accomplishment in the last 15 years had been the destruction of the myth of the invincibility of criminal cartels.

In recent years, he said, Colombia had dismantled two of the most powerful criminal coalitions that had ever existed -- the Medellin and Cali cartels -- and in South-East Asia, some of the most famous drug lords of the former Golden Triangle had negotiated with governments for a withdrawal from the drug trade.

It was now time to attack the structural underpinnings of major crime groups worldwide, he said. A new global strategy was needed, and the vehicle for that was the Convention Against Transnational Crime. He called for better cooperation among countries, as differences between bilateral agreements created procedural discrepancies that made cooperation very difficult. For many countries the Convention would provide the basis for working together in a uniform and coordinated manner when building a case.

The Convention should bring about the harmonization of laws among States on a number of issues, such as participation in criminal organizations or conspiracy, or making money laundering a criminal offence, he said. Without money-laundering, organized crime could not have flourished as it had in recent years. Preventing criminals from transforming dirty money into apparently clean wealth would destroy the motive of profit.

He said the Convention should also oblige States to adequately provide for witness protection schemes. In addition, the proposed Convention Protocols contained strong measures to address trafficking in women and children, and the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms.

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In the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations involvement in crime prevention, it was worth reflecting on the importance that the international community had attached to those issues, he said. A strong Convention on Transnational Organized Crime would directly affect the lives of millions of people around the world who were victims of international criminals. Many ordinary citizens and public officials put their lives on the line every day in pursuit of a safer and just world, and it was owed to them to adopt a solid international instrument that codified the global pursuit of equal justice under law.

Dialogue on Crime Prevention, Drug Control

The representative of Australia said that in New York, discussion had begun on developing indicators to judge the impact of policies and programmes and asked for elaboration on the matter.

The representative of Turkey, noting that there was unanimous condemnation of terrorism, asked whether there were more resources for action on that? Regarding drugs, the common vocabulary was on the need to share responsibility and on a balanced approach, but was the issue of raw materials used in the manufacturing of illicit drugs being addressed? he asked.

The representative of Iran said that as a transit country Iran was worried about the flow of drugs through its borders, particularly in light of the designation of the year 2008 as a target to eradicate illicit narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. What programmes were being worked to prevent illicit poppy production? In the context of the political situation of Afghanistan, there was a need to enhance the capability of countries to prevent the flow of chemicals for illicit drugs and narcotics.

Mr. ARLACCHI said that in establishing the Office in Vienna, the idea was to increase synergy between the two programmes. Productivity of both programmes had increased. Money laundering cut across illicit markets and activities. Having experts and mandates on drugs and crime allowed the realization of significant improvements. But that was only one component. Proper legislation and proper structure in drug control could benefit from crime centres and vice-versa. There should be increased synergies, even if the activities remained separate.

Regarding the question of developing indicators, he said a clear picture of the world drug problem, particularly on demand and supply, was needed or it would be difficult to implement the strategy articulated at the special session. What the demand was had to be known so that right resources could be allocated. The first task would be to create an elementary infrastructure of the work to reduce demand. There was a set of indicators and standards agreed on worldwide by epidemiological experts. All countries should have a minimal

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level of structures. Only 10 per cent of the countries had proper expertise and knowledge about traffic trends and patterns of consumption.

Mr. ARLACCHI said the Office would have experts to study terrorism and verify the rate of implementation of the existing 12 conventions. There was need for technical assistance to fight terrorism, but resources were limited.

Also, on the issue of the drug problem, he urged countries to strengthen legislation, and more than that, to strengthen the technical capacity to control precursors. The international community needed involvement from governments, the private sector, and development agents to control those precursors.

The Office's plan concerning the issue of illicit crops addressed one of the two main pillars of the special session, he said. Time had come to reduce or eliminate illicit crops. One week from now, a concrete plan of action for Latin America would be submitted. Peru, Bolivia and Colombia had expressed willingness to eliminate coca cultivation in 10 years. Most governments believed it could be done in five years. That was the first time governments had showed willingness to put coca cultivation at the centre of their action, and he commended the willingness of some countries to put 40 to 60 per cent of their own resources into that effort.

On the situation in Afghanistan, he said he was not happy with the action of last year. There had been a 90 per cent increase in the cultivation of opium, despite a ban by the Taliban movement, Islamic law, and the international community. Opium poppy should be eliminated regardless of any condition, he stressed. That goal should be the goal of every player in the Afghanistan scene. Opium and poppy should be treated as one of three or four main problems. He called on the Government to discourage peasants from opium and poppy cultivation.

The Government of Iran had done extremely good work and spent a staggering amount of resources to look at the problem of cross-border trafficking and to come up with requirements, he said. The international community should recognize and support the action of the Government of Iran.

The representative of Pakistan said the special session had issued a comprehensive document that required international cooperation to implement. There were two important issues to bear in mind, however. The first was the eradication of illicit crops, which required the provision of alternative crops, and the other issue was the reduction of poverty. The two issues were intimately related. Without addressing both issues, work to combat the illicit drug trade would always remain incomplete. On money laundering, another important area, he asked whether the UNDCP was working with international financial institutions to provide technical advice and assistance in eliminating that crime.

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The representative of Côte d'Ivoire asked whether the positive findings of the Office covered all countries, or only the countries that had significant resources or financial help in combating drugs. How did things stand in sub-Saharan Africa, in terms of supply and demand? She also pointed out that there was always a link between drug trafficking and arms trafficking. Was UNDCP working with peacekeeping bodies to deal with the increase in trafficking and production of drugs in conflict areas? she asked.

The representative of Zambia asked about Mr. Arlacchi's future plans for the Centre for International Crime Prevention (CICP)?

The representative of India endorsed Mr. Arlacchi's statement on the importance of resolve in combating crime and drug trafficking. He was gratified to hear that Mr. Arlacchi had envisioned something like the Convention on Transnational Organized Crime as early as 20 years ago. It was also clear from many examples that Mr. Arlacchi had given that criminal situations varied a great deal, and were highly complex. He appreciated the limited resources with which UNDCP was forced to work.

The representative of Fiji said that in the South Pacific, small island States were used as staging posts of international criminal activities. What policies were being developed to help such States combat activities such as money laundering? he asked.

Mr. ARLACCHI said, on the link between illicit drug trafficking and the eradication of poverty, that there had been a major intellectual leap on that issue. The link had been recognized. One of the major obstacles to development was drug trafficking and organized crime, in terms of capital flight, diversion of international aid, and the oppression of people. There were also long-term consequences in values and distortion of cultures. Poverty eradication and crime control were two sides of the same coin. Both must be approached at the same time.

He said there had been an increase in the UNDCP budget, but it was still extremely inadequate. He hoped that his organization would grow in order to implement its role. However, UNDCP alone could not implement alternative development plans. It needed to work with other United Nations agencies, whose role was development.

On the issue of money laundering, he said there was a joint programme within the UNDCP concerning crime and drugs. More than half of the programme was devoted to technical assistance, particularly to small countries that could be used for money laundering. The UNDCP was open to help in many ways, and he invited anyone interested to contact the UNDCP for assistance.

On the question of sub-Saharan Africa, he said the UNDCP was strengthening its offices there, and opening a regional office in South

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Africa. It would be expanding its drug control efforts there. In the area of building expertise in drug control, it was planning to develop a programme of training for drug control officers. Sub-Saharan Africa required a strong strategy for the prevention of a massive displacement of cannabis cultivation from other areas to Africa.

On the issue of the link with the arms trade, he said there was a global illegal economy. It was difficult to speak separately about drug trafficking, the arms trade, money laundering and other illegal activities. They were the main base for financing terrorism, for example, and money laundering was one of the ways that criminal activities were financed. The entire set of problems was part of the same big problem. The proliferation of international criminal activities was part of the process of globalization, and it was one of the major threats for the next century. He was establishing a special programme on international crises that arose from the illegal economy, which would work as an early-warning system for the international community. It could warn countries that were likely to be the target of destabilization by illegal activities.

On the question of the future of the CICP, he said the Centre was a very small entity, even compared to the small size of the UNDCP. It had a small budget, and an enormous mandate. It was important to be realistic in terms of the activities of the CICP, and more focused. The CICP should show its effectiveness in the field and by doing so win more financial support from Member States. He suggested the CICP make efforts in the area of organized crime, terrorism and the trafficking of human beings.

Statements on Crime Prevention, Drug Control

ERNST SUCHARIPA (Austria), speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said the dangers posed by organized crime and illicit drug flow could not be overestimated in economic and public health. Now was time for urgent action. He called on all to break off relations with anyone engaged in those areas. The Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention and other organizations had created considerable synergies of efforts. The Drug Programme had been deemed a great success, but the principle of shared responsibility and a balanced approach comprising supply and demand were the building blocks for future action.

The unanimous endorsement of what had been agreed at the special session was the best possible outcome of the meeting, he said. That momentum should be capitalised on with swift implementation. The UNDCP was the leading agency in drug control, but it needed proper financing. More than 50 per cent of contributions to UNDCP came from Governments, and he appealed to all countries to become donors and to increase contributions. Further, measures to combat drugs should be integrated in all sectors, focusing on children and young people.

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Noting the progress report of the final report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, he said special attention had to be paid to synthetic drugs. Regarding crime prevention and criminal justice, the European Union attached highest importance to achieving those by the year 2000. The Vienna International Centre would be the meeting place for academics, non- governmental organizations, regional groups, and Member States to focus on the challenges of the twenty-first century.

RAND BEERS (United States) said that the dangerous link between narcotics and international crime held one saving grace for the international community -- they could be fought at the same time with the same weapons. The most formidable of those weapons was the rule of law. However, international instruments and institutions were much more advanced in fighting narcotics. He welcomed the work of the General Assembly in developing new tools and alliances to increase cooperation and better implement the three United Nations drug Conventions. While drug abuse had dropped significantly in the United States, an estimated 13 million Americans still used drugs. Drug abuse was escalating on almost every continent.

His Government had requested 17 billion dollars for an anti-drug budget for the fiscal year 1999 to implement its national strategy on drugs, he said. Aspects of the strategy would include: educating youth to reject drugs; increasing the safety of citizens; reducing health and social costs; shielding America's frontiers; and breaking foreign and domestic drug sources of supply. The strategy would focus on cutting drug use by half over the next decade. Strengthening domestic law enforcement efforts would be vital to the antidrug campaign. Targeting international sources of supply would also be a key. The United States would do so by supporting efforts of source country institutions that addressed the most critical drug threats.

MOSES DLAMINI (Swaziland), on behalf of the Southern African Development Community, said collective efforts should be intensified to ensure a secure and safe world in which all human beings had a right to live. He was concerned about the growth in transnational organized crime, which threatened national and global security, political stability, and social and cultural values of societies the world over. The emergence of new manifestations of money laundering, bribery, robbery, trafficking in stolen motor vehicles and firearms, drug trafficking, terrorism and other forms of criminality underlined the crucial need for international cooperation in combatting all forms of crime.

It was necessary to continue to give attention to the practical implementation of the Naples Political Declaration and Global Action Plan, which provided guidance for Member States on ways and approaches to achieve common goals in addressing crime, he said. He endorsed the decision taken at the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its seventh session

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to establish an open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc committee to elaborate a comprehensive international convention against transnational organized crime.

Such commitments required financial support as well as the strengthening of subregional and regional cooperation in reviewing existing arrangements and mechanisms, he said. He appealed to the international community for technical cooperation and support.

He said the continued efforts by the United Nations system, Member States and civil society aimed at the eradication of the problem of illicit production and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances were justified by the fact that the problem undermined development, socio-economic and political stability both within and among nations. Issues of crime prevention and international drug control were issues of development. Cooperation of efforts against them must be strengthened, as they were issues of global concern that must be tackled collectively. Collective efforts at all levels must be intensified.

CARMEN MORENO DE DEL CUETO (Mexico) said her Government believed the world problem of drugs required a new approach. The recently concluded high-level participation of Member States at the special session was an example of a successful multilateral effort. The Assembly had supported rejection of the trend of acting in a unilateral or judgemental fashion, so no one should revert to individual recrimination.

The United Nations had a central role to play, but agreements must be translated into action, she said. There was a need to strengthen cooperation and control, to confront and make the problem of demand a priority. Also, an integrated approach was needed. In the case of precursors, there was a need for clear-cut control of exports. There was also a need for co-responsibility on the part of exporters and consumers.

Money laundering and illicit trafficking in arms should also be the subject of an international agreement, she said. Mexico would fight drugs and organized crime domestically, and on an international level, it would seek agreements for joint efforts. Mexico, along with 31 countries, had signed the 1997 agreement on firearms within the American States, and hoped others would do so soon.

MARY MORGAN-MOSS (Panama) speaking on behalf of the Rio Group, said the agenda before the Committee was a priority for all members of the Group. Despite tremendous efforts so far, the problem continued to grow. Drug trafficking networks were growing more important, and threatened all levels of societies and all countries. International and transnational crime were still far from being brought under control.

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The members of the Rio Group had come up with innovative solutions and ways of combating the problem, she said. The heads of States and Government of the Rio Group had met in Qito in 1995, and had committed to agree on new modalities of cooperation within the international community. Those conclusions had provided the impulse for the General Assembly to hold its special session on Drugs. The Rio Group had made contributions that were well reflected in the realistic and innovative Political Declaration and other texts adopted at the special session.

The concept of co-responsibility had been recognized, and specific goals and debts had been set, she said. In addition to concluding and adopting the Plan of Action, the international community needed to commit technical assistance and resources to implementation of the Plan.

It would be impossible to eradicate the supply of illicit drugs without addressing the demand, she said. Peru, for example, was an attractive transit point for cocaine, and its banking system had been used to launder money from the drugs trade. A great deal of the time of law enforcement officials and resources was being used in the efforts against the illicit drug trade. It was costly to capture and jail international drug trafficking criminals. All those points applied equally to other transit countries. She was not saying that the war against drugs should cease, but that a greater share of international funding should be allocated to the struggle. The poor transit countries should not be forced to subsidise wealthy countries.

TAKESHI KAMITANI (Japan) said the world was entering a new stage of international cooperation, shifting in recent years from formulating standards and norms in the field of offenders to taking concrete steps to counter common problems such as transnational criminal activities in the international community. In light of rapidglobalization, it was necessary that countermeasures against transnational organized crime and other instruments be given the highest priority, and that international efforts to elaborate a convention against transnational organized crime and other instruments be made in a timely and effective manner.

Japan firmly believed in firearms' regulation as a means of crime prevention and international cooperation among relevant authorities to combat illicit trafficking in such arms, he said. His Government had welcomed the United Nations International Study on Firearms regulation and the regional workshops, following its publication, in providing a valuable information to help international society to reduce harm posed by firearms. Japan recommended ongoing efforts to elaborate an international instrument on combating the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms.

His Government attached special significance to measures taken against amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and those directed against drug abuse among young people, he said. ATS were expected to be the principal drug problem of

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the next century. ATS were spreading rapidly because they were easy to manufacture. It was vital to protect younger people from the harm of illicit drugs through education. To that end, his Government had now mandated drug abuse prevention classes in schools which were often addressed by experts such as police officers. Its Drug Abuse Prevention Center was conducting a nation- wide public campaign entitled "Yes to Life, No to Drugs" as part of the Government's five-year strategy for the prevention of drug abuse. The campaign was unique in that it enhanced young people's understanding about drugs and encouraged charitable contributions, which had amounted to $2 million over the last four years.

XIE BOHUA (China) said that his delegation believed that the Political Declaration and Global Action Plan adopted at the 1994 Naples Ministerial Conference had had a positive impact on the international community's joint efforts at controlling and preventing organized transnational crime. By the end of 1997, China had signed bilateral judicial assistance treaties with 24 countries and had acceded to more than 20 international conventions.

In his Government's view, the Convention Against Organized Transnational Crime should fully take into account the established general models from existing conventions against transnational crime and the basic principles governing judicial assistance given by various countries. By doing so, more countries would be able to accept and accede to the draft convention. He said that the United Nations should have a larger role in combating organized transnational crime in particular by increasing resources for it. He added that developing countries needed greater technical assistance.

Statements on Social Development

HENRY MANGAYA YANGE (Democratic Republic of the Congo) said the gap between rich and poor countries had widened considerably. The rich continued to become richer, while the poor, because of external indebtedness, continued to see their economies stagnate. The situation was exacerbated by the protectionism of wealthy countries. Globalization would provide nothing for developing countries if it covered only economic issues and not social development. The great gap between North and South should be reduced by international assistance. The hopefully positive results of globalization would then benefit people who had previously been left out, especially the poor, the young, senior citizens and the disabled.

The Committee should work towards making the International Year of Older Persons a success, he said. The Democratic Republic insisted that the concern extended towards the problems of older people should not be of limited duration. Great consideration and respect had always been devoted to senior citizens in Africa. They had great potential to enrich society.

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SALAH AL-MALKI (Bahrain) said that social development included all members of society. Where social development was concerned, his country occupied the first ranking in the Arab world for the fourth time in a row, as had been affirmed in the Human Development Report. In Bahrain, the family was the lynchpin of society -- when its members prospered, all prospered. Caring for the elderly was also upheld by the teachings of the Holy Koran. The elderly enjoyed universal respect, and people depended on them in times of hardship.

Bahrain had formulated a new strategy for 1996 to 2000 that involved young people, he said. It provided advice on the family, reproductive health and reproductive rights. With regard to the elderly, a national commission had been established to formulate public policies. The committee had submitted a draft resolution of provisions for the elderly. Such measures as a home for parental care and a mobile home for the elderly were already in place. Further, training programmes were being developed for the elderly. Special studies were being undertaken on the disabled. Gratis health services and free education for citizens and residents were being provided, as was financial help for needy families.

FESSEHA TESSEMA (Ethiopia) said the problem of ageing was one of the many pressing problems facing the continent of Africa. It was regrettable that the potential of the aged to contribute to society was so often ignored. He hoped that the International Year of Older Persons would contribute to changing that attitude. In Ethiopia, the elderly had a special position in society. They were a valuable part of both the society and the family, and families themselves undertook responsibility for their care.

For the first time in the history of his country, the problems of the elderly had been included in the national agenda of social development, he said. In preparation of the International Year of Older Persons, Ethiopia had formed a national committee, which had undertaken projects such as organizing a national workshop on care for the aged. In dealing with the problems of older persons, intervention was required from the early stages of life. The problem of the elderly therefore could not be addressed adequately without also looking at the problems that faced young people.

THOMAS D'AQUIN OKOUDJOU (Benin) said that, where social development was concerned, a common minimum for all citizens had to be established. Since 1995 two associations had been set-up and land had been acquired. The Government was preparing for the celebration of the International Year of Older Persons by raising awareness for a society for all ages.

There would be general awareness campaigns, aimed at improving the social situation worldwide, he said. Unfortunately, there were harmful consequences of the financial crisis, since social development could not be separated from economic and cultural factors. While those concerns were the

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responsibility of the State, the State could not act alone. Only by cooperative action could poverty be eliminated.

JOHN LANGMORE, Director of the United Nations Division for Social Policy and Development, said that delegates from 50 countries had spoken, as well as one observer and representatives of three United Nations agencies. It had been an impressive debate with many suggestions for long-term changes. Of particular interest were reports on many national activities, and also comments on the first world youth meeting in Lisbon, the conference in Braga, and a policy for the disabled. There had been a reaffirmation of the role of the family. There had been a personal dimension and a humanity to the debate. He had noted specific proposals for the Division for Social Policy and Development. He expressed appreciation to all who had participated in the debate, the Advisory Committee on Ageing, and the Portuguese Government for the Lisbon Conference. In response to the suggestion that the Human Development Report should include an ageing index, he said that the Committee was discussing its possibility.

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