MORE OPIUM POPPY PRODUCED IN AFGHANISTAN THIS YEAR, BUT COOPERATION WITH TALIBAN YIELDING GOOD RESULTS
Press Release
AFG/97
PI/1151
MORE OPIUM POPPY PRODUCED IN AFGHANISTAN THIS YEAR, BUT COOPERATION WITH TALIBAN YIELDING GOOD RESULTS
19990625 ISLAMABAD, 25 June (UN Information Centre) -- An increase in opium poppy production is nearly certain this year in Afghanistan, but some concrete steps are being taken by the Taliban authorities and new programmes should create positive results, said today Bernard Frahi, Representative of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) for Pakistan and Afghanistan.Speaking at the weekly briefing of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), he underlined that Afghanistan is the largest producer of opium poppy in the world, ahead of Myanmar. In 1998, farmers cultivated an area of around 63,000 hectares, but the crop was lower than expected (2,100 metric tons) because of bad weather. "This year, we have all reason to be pessimistic because we have noted an increase in the overall zone of cultivation and the introduction of new areas. This is a very serious situation", said Mr. Frahi.
The UNDCP official however emphasized that his organization had "scored good results, based on the permanent dialogue maintained with the Taliban authorities". As an example, he indicated the decree adopted in December 1998 and pressing for the dismantlement of opium poppy production, which had resulted in the closure of 34 laboratories in Nanghar Province. In mid-May, the Taliban had also begun an eradication campaign in Kandahar Province, with a likely 400 hectares being eradicated. "This is a good signal of the intention of the Taliban to combat drug trafficking", stated Mr. Frahi. In this context, he announced that UNDCP's Executive Director Pino Arlacchi had asked him to convey his encouragement to the Taliban authorities, which he will do next week in Kabul.
The UNDCP has run programmes in four Afghan districts since 1997, covering some 9 per cent of the illicit cultivation in Afghanistan. A new project, borne out of the concept of Common United Nations Programming, has just begun in the province of Helmand, which was selected because of its large opium poppy cultivation area and the lack of current incentives. The project rests on the firm support of donors and is based on a common strategy involving non-governmental organizations and other United Nations agencies.
- 2 - Press Release AFG/97 PI/1151 25 June 1999
Mr. Frahi said the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and others were active partners in this new venture.
He hoped that, in the long term, UNDCP programmes in Afghanistan would be as successful as in Pakistan, which "almost succeeded in eliminating poppy production and went from 9,000 hectares cultivated to nearly zero in 10 years in Dir District". This is "a fantastic result", he said, even though drug abuse itself remains a major problem in Pakistan, with an estimated 3 million addicts.
Saturday 26 June will mark the worldwide observance of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Several activities are planned by UNDCP in Kabul, Jalalabad and in refugee camps outside the country. In Islamabad, UNDCP will organize a fun fair for families, in collaboration with the Narcotics Drug Control Division of Pakistan.
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