PLIGHT OF TRANSIT COUNTRIES HIGHLIGHTED IN THIRD COMMITTEE DEBATE ON INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL
Press Release
GA/SHC/3470
PLIGHT OF TRANSIT COUNTRIES HIGHLIGHTED IN THIRD COMMITTEE DEBATE ON INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL
19981012 Consideration of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice ContinuesThe problems of transit countries in confronting the illicit drug trade were highlighted this morning as the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) continued its consideration of crime prevention and criminal justice and international drug control.
The representative of Iran said his country, situated between main drug producers in the east and consumer countries in Europe, suffered from the spill over of consignments in transit. Calling for the creation of a security belt around Afghanistan, he said it would be possible to eradicate poppy cultivation in that country in the future by preventing the smuggling of drugs across its borders.
Turkey was a country on the main drug transit route, said its representative, adding law enforcement agencies had tried to prevent trafficking with very limited resources. It was hard to refer to shared responsibility and a balanced approach without introducing and applying measures to prevent the diversion of chemical precursors, he stressed. Control of precursors was as important as demand and supply reduction, he stated.
Pakistan's representative, stressing the importance of regional cooperation to confront the drug scourge, said the drug problem in Pakistan had a direct link with developments in Afghanistan in 1979, which had made his country one of the biggest casualties of the drug problem in the region.
The importance of regional cooperation as a crucial element in combating international organized crime was stressed by the representative of Belarus (speaking on behalf of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan), who reviewed cooperation efforts among the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), particularly in addressing economic crimes.
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Statements were also made by the representatives of Canada (also on behalf of Australia and New Zealand), Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Poland, Kyrgyzstan, Côte d'Ivoire, Myanmar and Kazakhstan.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 13 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 continue consideration of crime prevention and criminal justice and international drug control. It has before it the relevant sections of the report of the Economic and Social Council, reports of the Secretary-General and three draft resolutions. (For background on documents before the Committee, see Press Release GA/SHC/3467 of 8 October.)
Statements
KELTIE PATTERSON (Canada), speaking also on behalf of Australia and New Zealand, said the three countries believed international and regional cooperation was pivotal to efforts concerning drug control and combating organized crime. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs provided policy leadership and guidance, the United Nations International Drug Control Programme provided global focus for international action and the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) provided essential monitoring capacity. The three countries were pleased with the progress made at the special session of the General Assembly on the drug problem, which adopted the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction. The central role played by demand reduction in reducing the adverse consequences of drug abuse had been acknowledged. She called for efforts to identify best practices and the sharing of information among Member States.
She stressed the importance of a balanced and cooperative multilateral approach to criminal justice and crime prevention. "Organized crime knows no jurisdictional boundaries; it gravitates to countries where it is easiest for criminals to operate, hence the importance of an effective criminal justice system." She welcomed the work accomplished at the seventh session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, including the decision to negotiate a convention to combat transnational organized crime with detailed provisions on measures of cooperation such as mutual legal assistance, extradition and law enforcement cooperation.
MARIA LOURDES RAMIRO-LOPEZ (Philippines), addressing the item on crime prevention and criminal justice, said the international community could be proud of the work it had done in norm and standard setting, in particular the drafting of a convention against organized crime and the implementation of advisory and technical cooperation projects. There had also been significant efforts of groups of countries at the regional and sub-regional levels, including ministerial meetings, as the one hosted by her country of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in December 1997.
She recalled the concerns expressed by the Asian Regional Ministerial Meeting, also hosted by her country in March, on the increase and expansion of organized criminal activities in areas such as trafficking in human beings,
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firearms, drugs, illegal trade in cultural objects and natural resources, and on money laundering. The Asian Ministerial Meeting had adopted two regional projects aimed at the following: the updating of legal, administrative and judicial instruments in the area of prevention and control of transnational crime; and the prevention and control of corruption to promote transparency and accountability. The ASEAN countries also sought to enhance existing cooperation with the establishment of a Centre for Transnational Crime to coordinate subregional efforts.
ABDURRAHMAN FACHIR (Indonesia) said the latter half of this century had witnessed a staggering growth in organized transnational crime, generating such profit as to overwhelm national law enforcement mechanisms. "We have reached a critical point where only through international cooperation can we meet this growing threat", he said. He welcomed the outcome of the seventh session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, particularly the attention given by the Commission to the strategic management of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme. He expressed the hope the establishment of the Office for Drug and Control and Crime Prevention would lead to more effective results in those areas.
The newly reconstituted Centre for International Crime Prevention as the central United Nations entity responsible for work in that field must be able to continue providing the necessary technical expertise and assistance required by Member States, he said. He expressed serious concern that the income projections for the current biennium were not encouraging and said the efforts of the Centre to become more operational could thus be hampered. Despite the clear concern of the international community over the issues of crime prevention and criminal justice, a lack of adequate resources may impede the effective operationalization of United Nations activities in those areas, to the detriment of those Member States who had requested assistance in implementing projects, and ultimately undermine the framework of international cooperation. Stressing that for the developing countries technical assistance was essential, he underlined the necessity of donors ensuring adequate funding for those activities.
HENRIQUE VALLE (Brazil) said his country was actively participating in the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. The tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders to be held in the year 2000 would provide a timely opportunity to review efforts to combat organized crime. The Brazilian Government had undertaken several initiatives against transnational crime, which included cooperation with other countries and updating international treaties on issues such as extradition and exchange of prisoners. National legislation had also been approved on issues such as money laundering and small arms control. The rehabilitation of criminals was also a key element in the Brazilian approach to combating crime. Brazil aligned its criminal justice policies with United Nations principles.
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It had instituted important measures to reduce the overcrowding of prisons, and pledged to close all prisons that did not meet international standards.
International criminal activities had proliferated in connection with the drug trafficking, he said. The international community had recognized the principle of shared responsibility, and that solutions must reflect a balanced and multisectoral approach. It was important also to address the issues of reduction of demand and the provision of alternative crops for farmers. The special session of the General Assembly in June had provided a new framework of understanding of the problem. Brazil had taken major steps to combat illicit drugs, including fully modernizing its institutional framework to deal with that problem. Its policies were based not only on repression, but also on prevention. In particular, efforts were being made to make young people understand that drugs led to self-destruction and death. Intense cooperation with other countries of the region was also of utmost importance.
MACIEJ KOZLOWSKI (Poland) expressed satisfaction that a great majority of Member States recognized the problem of drugs and organized crime as the biggest scourges of the time, posing a threat to the stability and well-being of societies. Two years ago, Poland had proposed an elaboration of a convention on organized transnational crime. New mechanics for State cooperation were necessary to deal with the problem. The growing respect of human rights, liberalization of trade and easy movement of people gave the same advantages to criminals. There was a gap between facing the growing challenges, and how to act together to solve those problems.
The ability to exploit State weaknesses and legal systems had been proven in the last decade, he said. Transnational organized crime posed a serious threat to democratic societies. Murder, extortion and bribery were everyday actions of those criminals. Thus, it was important that the unconventional methods of operation needed unconventional remedies.
He said doubts had been raised last year about the viability of international efforts, but the necessity for a convention had been recognized at the Warsaw meeting, representing a breakthrough. The question was how and when, but now at least plans for a convention were on the way. He hoped it would materialize as soon as possible. His Government firmly believed the world could not wait any longer, as the cost was too high. Poland had endorsed the creation of an open-ended ad hoc committee, saying that such a convention should address the major threats posed by organized crime and address how States could face those on the basis of identified priorities and needs. The ability of the international community to respond swiftly was both necessary and possible -- as responses to terrorism and to nuclear threats had showed.
MOHAMMAD AMIRKHIZI (Iran) said the expansion and diversification of illicit drugs -- with a powerful $400 billion a year industry and a global
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network of crime and political connections -- was a major source of instability and underdevelopment in many parts of the world. There was a need for global determination to deal with such a menace. His country believed that demand reduction was an indispensable pillar in the global strategy to counter illicit drugs and the strategy to eliminate the illicit cultivation of opium poppy and coca bush. The Islamic Republic of Iran -- situated between the main drug producers on its eastern borders and the consumer countries in the West, mainly in Europe -- suffered from the spill over of illicit narcotics consignments which were transited through Iran. The route was the shortest transit route for carrying shipments from Afghanistan and Pakistan to Europe.
Afghanistan had become the largest producer of narcotics worldwide, he said. All human and financial resources spent by his Government for the fortification of the eastern border had been without any economic or commercial significance, and all such efforts had been carried out without any contributions from the international community. Thus, the critical issue of illicit cultivation of poppy and drug production in Afghanistan was of utmost importance to all States in the region and the international community, especially the consumer markets in Europe. The disastrous events and civil war had caused Afghanistan to be a poverty-stricken and war-ravaged country with a huge production of drugs. He called for creating a security belt around Afghanistan, saying it would be possible to stop and eradicate the poppy cultivation in Afghanistan in the near future, by preventing the smuggling of drugs from Afghanistan across its borders.
ZAMIRA ESHMAMBETOVA (Kyrgyzstan) said her country attached great importance to the fight against illicit drugs. With other States in its region, it was actively cooperating with the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the INCB on combatting drugs in the area of central Asia, and she thanked those institutions for their help, including expert consultancy and technical support. With the globalization of the international economy, including the development of electronic trade, drugs were becoming a more worldwide and pervasive problem. The flow of illicit drugs was increasing, and measures must be taken to combat the problem within her region. She welcomed recent signing of the memorandum of understanding between the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the Economic Cooperation Organization.
Low standards of living could bring whole families into the business of growing crops for drugs, and economic measures should be taken to improve their lot and reduce production, she said. Although drug abuse was not widespread in Kyrgyzstan, there had been a huge increase in drug-related crime. Kyrgyzstan was also not experienced or well-equipped in the treatment of drug abusers, and she appealed for international aid in that regard. There was a strong inter-relationship between supply and demand, and the problem could only be addressed with the cooperation of the international community.
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ALYAKSANDR SYCHOU (Belarus), speaking on behalf of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmensitan and Uzbekistan on the issue of crime prevention and criminal justice, said international crime in the economic sphere was becoming more widespread. Crime was becoming increasingly sophisticated and professional. The criminal world was acting across State frontiers, and the effectiveness of the fight against it depended not only on national forces, but must be a coordinated action on the part of the whole world community. The 1994 Naples conference had been an important conference that had contributed to international efforts to combat crime, and it was important now to prepare for the 2000 meeting to be held in Vienna. The countries for which he spoke were all prepared to cooperate actively with the United Nations and all its tools to combat crime.
Crime in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was an important concern, he said. Work was being done to draft a set of multilateral agreements between countries in the area to combat international organized crime. Important issues under discussion included the fight against computer- based crime, and theft of intellectual property. In view of the trans-border nature and sophistication of such crimes, Belarus was working on a data bank of information on international organized crime networks. The law enforcement bodies of the States for which he spoke had also carried out preventative measures and cooperative efforts on staff training. They were convinced that it was only through joint efforts that the task could be resolved.
KABA CAMARA (Cote d'Ivoire) said the globalization of the world had also brought liabilities such as international organized crime. Such liabilities had destroyed social tissues, health programmes, human dignity and were not things of the past. In drug production and trafficking, a global view was needed to observe trends and cartels. For example, a reduction in one place could mean a reduction in another. Thus, a more thorough study of the situation in Africa was needed to observe those relationships. For African countries, one key problem was the porous nature of borders and a lack of resources to fight the scourge of drugs.
Member States had met to consider drug-related problems to take action and to reduce the abuse and spread of drugs, she said. It was a common responsibility. The special session had come up with a declaration, which included a deadline for strengthening legislation by the year 2003 and reduction by the year 2008. The international community should help developing countries to meet that deadline set by the international community. Her country had ratified the various instruments to combat drugs and was serious about making the rendezvous in the year 2008, but financial assistance was needed for it to do such things as create a central data bank and other mechanisms to help prevent and suppress the abuse and spread of drugs.
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AHMET ARDA (Turkey) said that according to the Single Narcotics Convention of 1961, his country was one of the two leading poppy straw producers. His country regarded drug abuse as a global problem with diverse dimensions, each requiring different actions to overcome. It was carrying on its fight against the problem domestically, looking at demand and supply, money-laundering and such related issues. It had signed 43 bilateral agreements to fight the drug problem.
Turkey was on the main drug transit route, he said, adding that with limited resources, law enforcement agencies had tried to prevent trafficking. Turkey supported INCB recommendations in implementing article 12 of the 1988 Convention. In that respect, the outcome of the special session was far from addressing its expectations. Turkey would closely follow the development of the "know your customer" policy. It was hard to refer to shared responsibility and a balanced approach without introducing and applying measures to prevent the diversion of chemical precursors. Control of precursors was as important as demand and supply reduction.
He welcomed a comprehensive convention on transnational organized crime that would be effective in dealing with such crime. A sound international legal basis was needed to deal with all the issues of drug control and other related issues.
PE THEIN TIN (Myanmar) reiterated his country's commitment to undertake its share of the global illicit drug burden and cooperate with the international community. Myanmar was determined to achieve success in the total elimination of poppy cultivation and opium production in the country. In 1996, Myanmar had undertaken a 15-year narcotics elimination plan, by which the country would be totally free of narcotic drugs by the year 2011. He was confident that ambitious goal would be reached by the target date or even sooner if Myanmar's efforts were reinforced by understanding and cooperation from the international community.
The Alternative Development Programme in Myanmar, launched early this year with the help of the Government of Japan and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, constituted an important contribution towards the 15-year narcotics elimination plan, he said. "We only hope that the important work of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, as it undertakes to bring about a world totally free of illicit narcotic drugs, would not in any way be limited or constrained by those who cling to their own narrow views and misconceptions about other countries' current political circumstances", he said. Time was short, and there were urgent measures to be taken within precise time-frames. The cause should transcend petty political opinions espoused by some quarters if the best of intentions were to be turned into reality.
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MOHAMMAD SIDDIQUE KHAN KANJU (Pakistan) said the problem of illicit drugs was not restricted to one country or region. It affected all segments of society, in every country throughout the world. The special session of the General Assembly in June reflected the international community's commitment to the fight against the drug problem and to strengthen the existing multilateral cooperation among nations. He reiterated Pakistan's commitment to vigorously pursue the objectives set out in the political declaration and other documents adopted by the special session. It had always been a strong proponent of collective efforts by the international community. It was active on a regional level, and on a bilateral level had an ongoing arrangement with India for exchange of intelligence information on drug related issues, and cooperated closely with Iran.
The drug problem in Pakistan had a direct link with geo-political developments which had shocked the region two decades ago, he said. The developments in Afghanistan in 1979 had made Pakistan one of the biggest casualties of the drug problem in the region. Its fight against the problem was one of its highest priorities. Since 1970, poppy cultivation had been banned in Pakistan, and stiff penalties, including capital punishment, had been promulgated for persons involved in drug trafficking.
The prevalence of poverty had a direct link with substance abuse and drug trafficking, he said. Poverty facilitated drug traffickers' search for addicts and conduits. He called for a strengthening of international efforts for the implementation of anti-poverty strategies with the help of relevant United Nations Funds and Programmes and Bretton Woods institutions to complement international efforts to overcome the drug problem.
MARAT TASMAGAMBETO (Kazakhstan) said modern crime was marked by a trend towards the activities of criminal organizations at the international level. Such activities had a particular impact on countries with economies in transition. Corruption and bribery of State officials, concealment of profits and tax evasion undermined economic stability and counteracted growth. Organized crime had extended across national borders and was becoming an ever more serious threat to international security as a whole and could only be countered through harmonized efforts by the entire international community. The United Nations had an important coordinating role to play.
There was an obvious need to adopt an international convention against organized transnational crime, he said. The preliminary draft of such a convention had been considered at the meeting of the open-ended intersessional, intergovernmental expert group in Warsaw in February and must become an effective instrument in combating international crime. Kazakhstan welcomed the holding of the tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders in April 2000. It also welcomed the workshop on combating corruption; crimes related to computer work; community involvement in crime prevention; and women in the criminal justice system.
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His country was experiencing the difficulties of a transition period and was deeply concerned by the seriousness of the problems created by corruption, bribery and non-payment of taxes. In that regard, a new Criminal Code of Kazakhstan had entered into force in January this year. Also, in July an Act on Combating Corruption had been adopted, and an update of the national legislative base was planned.
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