INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT

11 May 1999

Press Release
SOC/NAR/800

INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT

19990511 VIENNA, 11 May (UN Information Service) -- António Lourenço Martins, a distinguished jurist and currently a judge in the Supreme Court of Portugal, was elected yesterday as the new President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).

Mr. Martins has served previously in his country as General Director of the Judicial Police, Deputy Attorney-General, member of the Consultative Committee of the Attorney-General's Office and as a prosecutor, as well as judge. He has chaired working groups responsible for drawing up Portuguese anti-drug legislation and has written numerous publications on drug issues, including a book with commentaries on major international and national drug legislation.

Mr. Martins, who has been a member of the Board since 1995, served as its Rapporteur in 1996. He has also served as a member of the INCB's Standing Committee on Estimates and its Committee on Finance and Administration.

The Board also elected Alfredo Pemjean of Chile as First Vice-President, Nelia Cortes-Maramba of the Philippines as Second Vice-President and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Estimates, and Jacques Franquet of France as Rapporteur. Officers are elected by the Board to serve a one-year term.

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